el ▁is ▁a ▁full ▁switching ▁power ▁supply ▁module ▁( des igned ▁as ▁a ▁drop - in ▁replacement ▁for ▁ 7 8 xx ▁ch ips ), ▁and ▁not ▁a ▁linear ▁reg ulator ▁like ▁the ▁ 7 8 xx ▁IC s . ▁ ▁Adv antages ▁▁ ▁While ▁external ▁capac itors ▁are ▁typically ▁required , ▁ 7 8 xx ▁series ▁IC s ▁do ▁not ▁require ▁additional ▁components ▁to ▁set ▁their ▁output ▁voltage . ▁ 7 8 xx ▁designs ▁are ▁simple ▁in ▁comparison ▁to ▁switch - mode ▁power ▁supply ▁designs . ▁▁▁ 7 8 xx ▁series ▁IC s ▁have ▁built - in ▁protection ▁against ▁a ▁circuit ▁drawing ▁too ▁much ▁current . ▁They ▁have ▁protection ▁against ▁over he ating ▁and ▁short - circ uits , ▁making ▁them ▁robust ▁in ▁most ▁applications . ▁ ▁Dis adv antages ▁▁ ▁The ▁input ▁voltage ▁must ▁always ▁be ▁higher ▁than ▁the ▁output ▁voltage ▁by ▁some ▁minimum ▁amount ▁( typ ically ▁ 2 . 5   vol ts ). ▁This ▁can ▁make ▁these ▁devices ▁un su itable ▁for ▁power ing ▁some ▁devices ▁from ▁certain ▁types ▁of ▁power ▁sources ▁( for ▁example , ▁power ing ▁a ▁circuit ▁that ▁requires ▁ 5   vol ts ▁using ▁ 6 - vol t ▁batter ies ▁will ▁not ▁work ▁using ▁a ▁ 7 8 0 5 ). ▁ ▁For ▁input ▁volt ages ▁closer ▁to ▁the ▁output ▁voltage , ▁a ▁pin - compatible ▁low - drop out ▁reg ulator ▁( L DO ) ▁can ▁be ▁used ▁instead . ▁ ▁As ▁they ▁are ▁based ▁on ▁a ▁linear ▁reg ulator ▁design ,