![]() Simple enough.The part datasheet will specify thermal resistances. ![]() That costs nothing except a bit of PCB area- no fasteners, assembly labor or heat sink costs to consider, no extra (secondary) operations and extra ways for assembly workers to screw things up.In my opinion, if you're close to needing a heat sink for a linear regulator it's time to at least consider a switching supply unless you have special requirements such as low EMI. ![]() That's based on industrial service and high reliability so it's a conservative number.If it needs to be more than that then I do the calculations, and possibly even tests, and decide what's best.You can do a moderate copper pour and use a (surface mount) TO-252 and get better than a TO-220 without a heatsink - often quoted at 65☌/W in air. My personal rule of thumb is that a TO-220 3-terminal linear regulator does not need a heatsink for less than 600mW (vertical mount).
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