Quiescent current

[littlepicbits]

Hi, another layman's question!

What is quiescent current?

Thanks.

 

[schmitt trigger]

In as plain English as possible, the current drawn by a device or circuit, while idling and doing nothing.

Think of a voltage regulator without any load, an audio amplifier without a sound signal, a microprocessor doing endless loops waiting for an input to be processed.

 

[picbits]

Current used when the circuit or device isn't actually doing anything.

I.e when the circuit is powered but not operating.

 

[littlepicbits]

Thanks