LM324 Low Power Quad Op Amp SOIC-14

LM324 Low Power Quad Op Amp SOIC-14 is a highly versatile integrated circuit that bundles four independent, high-gain operational amplifiers into a single surface-mount package. Specifically designed for single-supply operation, the LM324 simplifies designs by allowing the output voltage range to include ground (0V), eliminating the need for a separate negative power supply. Consequently, this feature makes it the foundational choice for countless general-purpose amplification, buffering, and signal conditioning tasks in mobile and cost-sensitive applications. Because the LM324 draws a very low quiescent current, furthermore, engineers widely use this chip in battery-powered electronics where energy efficiency is critical. Therefore, you should select the LM324 SOIC-14 for high-density PCBs that require four reliable, flexible, and low-power op amps.

Key Features:

• Quad Amplifier Design: The chip integrates four completely independent operational amplifiers, significantly reducing component count and board space in complex circuits.
• Single-Supply Operation: Operates efficiently from a single power supply over a wide range (3.0 V to 32 V or ±1.5 V to ±16 V dual supply).
• Low Power Consumption: Consumes low quiescent current, which makes it ideal for portable, battery-powered equipment where energy saving is essential.
• Ground-Referenced Output: The output voltage range includes the negative supply rail (ground in single-supply mode), maximizing dynamic range in low-voltage systems.
• Large Voltage Gain: Provides a high DC voltage gain of ≈ 100 dB, suitable for precision amplification and filtering.

Technical Specifications:

• Number of Channels: 4 (Quad Op-Amp)
• Supply Voltage Range (Single): 3.0 V to 32 V
• Quiescent Current (I_Q): Typically 1.2 mA (Total for four amplifiers)
• Unity-Gain Bandwidth: 1.2 MHz (Typical)
• Input Bias Current (I_B): Typically 45 nA
• Input Offset Voltage (V_IO): Maximum 7 mV
• Operating Temperature Range: 0°C to +70°C (Commercial)

Mechanical Specifications:

• Package Type: SOIC-14 (Small Outline Integrated Circuit, 14-Pin)
• Mounting Style: Surface Mount Device (SMD/SMT)
• Pin Pitch: 1.27 mm (Standard for SOIC package)
• Lead Finish: Sn-Pb or NiPdAu (Varies by manufacturer and part number suffix)

Dimensions:

• Body Length (Nominal): ≈ 8.65 mm
• Body Width (Nominal): ≈ 3.90 mm
• Height (Max): ≈ 1.75 mm
• Weight: < 0.5 g (Extremely small and lightweight for portable designs)

Pinout and Wiring:

• Pin 3, 5, 10, 12 (Non-Inverting Input): Connect the positive signal input for each of the four amplifiers (A, B, C, D).
• Pin 2, 6, 9, 13 (Inverting Input): Connect the negative signal input for each of the four amplifiers (A, B, C, D).
• Pin 1, 7, 8, 14 (Output): These pins deliver the amplified and conditioned signal from each amplifier.
• Pin 4 (V_CC): Connect the positive power supply rail (V+).
• Pin 11 (GND): Connect the ground or negative power supply rail (V-).

Datasheet Reference:

• Download Texas Instruments LM324 Datasheet

Commonly Used in:

• Battery-Powered Devices: The low power consumption makes it a popular choice for portable instruments, sensors, and remote controls.
• Automotive Electronics: Used widely in on-board signal monitoring and conditioning systems due to its robust single-supply performance.
• General Signal Processing: Serving as the building block in active filters, buffers, and simple oscillators across various consumer and industrial products.

Applications:

• Voltage Comparators: You can configure the individual op amps as voltage comparators for simple threshold detection.
• Active Filtering: Implementing high-pass, low-pass, and band-pass filters for audio and sensor signal processing.
• Transducer Amplifiers: Amplifying very small signals from sensors (e.g., phototransistors, thermistors) before they reach an ADC.
• Gain Blocks: Providing stable, defined gain stages in multi-stage amplification systems.

Equivalent Models:

• LM324A: An improved version offering tighter specifications on input offset voltage and bias current.
• LM2902: The equivalent commercial version specified for a wider industrial temperature range (−40°C to +85°C).
• TL074: While not pin-for-pin functionally identical due to JFET inputs, it serves as a common quad op amp alternative when lower input bias current is paramount.

Package Includes:

• 1 x LM324 Low Power Quad Operational Amplifier SOIC-14