the dude of dudes
New Member
I picked up a bag of +5v regulators in TO-92 packaging off Ebay for cheap, but I'm starting to think the whole batch is toast (???). They're stamped ST L78L05, on the second line is a single letter 'A', and on the third line is GE 542. I assume these to be a standard +5v regulator, but when I use in a circuit with a 9v alkaline battery I get 8.5v out instead of 5. I've tested several of them, all with the same results. Are they toast?