{"id":15680,"date":"2025-10-22T06:53:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T01:23:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/?p=15680"},"modified":"2025-10-22T06:53:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T01:23:16","slug":"what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the difference between a buck converter and linear regulator?"},"content":{"rendered":"<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SceoQ5yqH7Q?si=sRf7lyxxY2Xa7cwz\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some time back I had posted about the popular <a href=\"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/7805-voltage-regulator-ic\/\">7805 Voltage Regulator IC<\/a> and also demonstrated  <a href=\"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/demo-of-voltage-regulation-with-popular-ic-7805\/\">Voltage Regulation with IC 7805<\/a>. That is a simple linear regulator. They use resistive, linear method that is simple, low cost and generates very little noise. But they are inefficient and generates significant heat, especially with large voltages. Hence good heat sinks are needed. Suppose a linear regulator is converting 12V at 3A to 9V, then 9W (3V x 3A) is dissipated as heat. On the other hand a buck converter for same application may dissipate only 2W of energy as heat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Buck converters are best for high power applications where efficiency is critical, while linear regulators are useful for low power noise sensitive or cost sensitive applications where efficiency is not of much concern. Buck converters operate as <a href=\"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-an-smps-and-a-linear-power-supply\/\">switch mode power supplies<\/a> using a reactive step-down method, primarily using  MOSFET at high current. Efficiency of buck converters can be as high as 85%. Buck converters require external components like an inductor and capacitors while the IC 78xx or 79xx series require few or no external components. 78xx series give positive output while 79xx series give negative output. For example, 7805 gives +5V output while 7905 gives -5V output.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Linear regulators like 78xx or 79xx need <a href=\"https:\/\/groups.io\/g\/BITX20\/message\/121360\">small value capacitors in parallel to electrolytic capacitors<\/a> to prevent oscillation in the long wave range (typically at 50-100 kHz), which can cause harmonic noise even up to the shortwave range. Large value electrolytic capacitors provide low impedance path to ground effectively smoothing out low frequency ripple voltages from the power supply. On the other hand they have parasitic equivalent series inductance (ESL) which increases their impedance at higher frequencies. At its self-resonant frequency (SRF), the capacitor starts behaving like an inductor and filtering ability degrades significantly. At self resonant frequency the reactance due to equivalent inductance is equal to the reactance due to its capacitance, causing resonance. That is why small value ceramic capacitors are better for filtering high frequency noise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some time back I had posted about the popular 7805 Voltage Regulator IC and also demonstrated Voltage Regulation with IC 7805. That is a simple linear regulator. They use resistive, linear method that is simple, low cost and generates very little noise. But they are inefficient and generates significant heat, especially with large voltages. Hence [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15688,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-amateur-radio-ham-radio"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What is the difference between a buck converter and linear regulator? - Johnson&#039;s Techworld<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is the difference between a buck converter and linear regulator? - Johnson&#039;s Techworld\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Some time back I had posted about the popular 7805 Voltage Regulator IC and also demonstrated Voltage Regulation with IC 7805. That is a simple linear regulator. They use resistive, linear method that is simple, low cost and generates very little noise. But they are inefficient and generates significant heat, especially with large voltages. Hence [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Johnson&#039;s Techworld\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-22T01:23:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-22T01:23:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/What-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"678\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Johnson Francis\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Johnson Francis\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Johnson Francis\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6201c843e80ccd3578e6196b1d007027\"},\"headline\":\"What is the difference between a buck converter and linear regulator?\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-22T01:23:14+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-22T01:23:16+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":341,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6201c843e80ccd3578e6196b1d007027\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/What-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Amateur Radio (Ham Radio)\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\\\/\",\"name\":\"What is the difference between a buck converter and linear regulator? - Johnson&#039;s Techworld\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/What-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-22T01:23:14+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-22T01:23:16+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/What-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/What-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":678},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"What is the difference between a buck converter and linear regulator?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/\",\"name\":\"Johnson's Techworld\",\"description\":\"Johnson&#039;s Techworld\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6201c843e80ccd3578e6196b1d007027\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6201c843e80ccd3578e6196b1d007027\",\"name\":\"Johnson Francis\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/channels4_profile.jpg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/channels4_profile.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/channels4_profile.jpg\",\"width\":600,\"height\":600,\"caption\":\"Johnson Francis\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/channels4_profile.jpg\"},\"description\":\"Amateur Radio Operator VU2JO. Originally licensed as VU2JFP with Grade 1 license in 1985. Upgraded to Advanced Grade in 1988 and was allotted new callsign to VU2JO\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@johnsonstechworld\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/johnsonfrancis.org\\\/techworld\\\/author\\\/jf\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What is the difference between a buck converter and linear regulator? - Johnson&#039;s Techworld","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What is the difference between a buck converter and linear regulator? - Johnson&#039;s Techworld","og_description":"Some time back I had posted about the popular 7805 Voltage Regulator IC and also demonstrated Voltage Regulation with IC 7805. That is a simple linear regulator. They use resistive, linear method that is simple, low cost and generates very little noise. But they are inefficient and generates significant heat, especially with large voltages. Hence [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/","og_site_name":"Johnson&#039;s Techworld","article_published_time":"2025-10-22T01:23:14+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-22T01:23:16+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":678,"url":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/What-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Johnson Francis","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Johnson Francis","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/"},"author":{"name":"Johnson Francis","@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/#\/schema\/person\/6201c843e80ccd3578e6196b1d007027"},"headline":"What is the difference between a buck converter and linear regulator?","datePublished":"2025-10-22T01:23:14+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-22T01:23:16+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/"},"wordCount":341,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/#\/schema\/person\/6201c843e80ccd3578e6196b1d007027"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/What-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator.jpg","articleSection":["Amateur Radio (Ham Radio)"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/","url":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/","name":"What is the difference between a buck converter and linear regulator? - Johnson&#039;s Techworld","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/What-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator.jpg","datePublished":"2025-10-22T01:23:14+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-22T01:23:16+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/What-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/What-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator.jpg","width":1200,"height":678},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-buck-converter-and-linear-regulator\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What is the difference between a buck converter and linear regulator?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/#website","url":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/","name":"Johnson's Techworld","description":"Johnson&#039;s Techworld","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/#\/schema\/person\/6201c843e80ccd3578e6196b1d007027"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/#\/schema\/person\/6201c843e80ccd3578e6196b1d007027","name":"Johnson Francis","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/channels4_profile.jpg","url":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/channels4_profile.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/channels4_profile.jpg","width":600,"height":600,"caption":"Johnson Francis"},"logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/channels4_profile.jpg"},"description":"Amateur Radio Operator VU2JO. Originally licensed as VU2JFP with Grade 1 license in 1985. Upgraded to Advanced Grade in 1988 and was allotted new callsign to VU2JO","sameAs":["https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@johnsonstechworld\/"],"url":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/author\/jf\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15680"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15680\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15691,"href":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15680\/revisions\/15691"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johnsonfrancis.org\/techworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}