To avoid excessive power dissipation in a regulator's series pass transistor under shorted-load conditions,a designer can add

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Foldback current limiting is the best choice to avoid excessive power dissipation in a regulator's series pass transistor under shorted-load conditions. Foldback current limiting reduces the output current to a safe level as the load resistance decreases, preventing the transistor from overheating or being damaged. Short-circuit protection and crow-bar protection are also helpful, but they tend to shut down the regulator completely, which may not be desirable in certain applications. Low-power transistors are not a good choice since they may not be able to handle the necessary current without overheating.

To Avoid Excessive Power Dissipation in a Regulator's Series Pass