More Power on an OOPic

The factory installed 5-Volt Regulator on the OOPic, is a 7805 in a TO-92 case. This size of voltage regulator can supply up to 100ma of current at 5 Volts.
On the OOPic, the holes that the 7805 are soldered into are larger than they need to be for the TO-92 case. This is so that it can be replaced with the larger, and more powerful, TO-220 version.

The TO-220 case version of the 7805 5-Volt Regulator can supply up to 1000ma (1 amp) of current at 5 Volts. A hole is provided at the top of the regulator to mount a heat sink. A heat sink is required to dissipate any heat that the regulator generates when regulating large amounts of power.

Radio Shack, and most other electronic parts stores, sell the 7805 5-Volt Regulator in a TO-220 case.
Radio Shack's stock number for this item is 276-1770a and it cost under $2.00.

Front of the OOPic.	Back of the OOPic.
The red ovals mark the position of the voltage regulator's holes on the OOPic.

Before proceeding, take note that we are not responsible for the level of your skill.
This procedure requires advanced de-soldering skills and we are not responsible if you damage the OOPic during this procedure.

The steps to replacing the 7805 Voltage Regulator are as follows:

Remove the OOPic microcontroller chip and the EEPROMs from the OOPic board.
Carefully de-solder and remove the factory installed 7805.
Clean all excess solder out of the three holes.

Insert the new 7805.


	Pin 1: Unregulated power input. Pin 2: Ground. Pin 3: Regulated +5 Volt output.

Solder in the new 7805 Voltage Regulator.
Apply power and verify that the regulator is providing +5 Volts to the OOPic board.
After the new 7805 has been verified as working, reinsert the OOPic microcontroller chip and the EEPROMs.

Here is an image of an OOPic with an upgraded TO-220 case 7805 voltage regulator.

Notice that the TO-220 case extends much higher than the original TO-92 case did, giving ample room to attach a heat sink.

Front of the OOPic.

Back of the OOPic.