Use the LM158/LM258/LM358 Dual, Single Supply Op Amp

National Semiconductor
Use the Application Note 116
August 1980
LM158/LM258/LM358 Dual,
Single Supply Op Amp
Introduction In many applications the LM158/LM258/LM358 can also be
used directly in place of LM1558 for split supply operation.
Use the LM158/LM258/LM358 dual op amp with a single
supply in place of the LM1458/LM1558 with split supply and
reap the profits in terms of:
Single Supply Operation
a. Input and output voltage range down to the negative The LM1458/LM1558 or similar op amps exhibit several
(ground) rail important limitations when operated from a single positive
(or negative) supply. Chief among these is that input and
b. Single supply operation
output signal swing is severely limited for a given supply as
c. Lower standby power dissipation shown in Figure 1. For linear operation, the input voltage
d. Higher output voltage swing must not reach within 3 volts of ground or of the supply, and
e. Lower input offset current output range is similarly limited to within 3–5 volts of ground
or supply. This means that operation with a +12V supply
f. Generally similar performance otherwise
could be limited as low as 2 Vp-p output swing. The LM358
The main advantage, of course, is that you can eliminate the however, allows a 10.5 Vp-p output swing for the same 12V
negative supply in many applications and still retain equiva- supply. Admittedly these are worst case specification limits,
lent op amp performance. Additionally, and in some cases but they serve to illustrate the problem.
more importantly, the input and output levels are permitted to
swing down to ground (negative rail) potential. Table 1
shows the relative performance of the two in terms of guar-
anteed and/or typical specifications.

TABLE 1. Comparison of Dual Op Amps LM1458 and LM358

Characteristic LM1458 LM358
VIO 6 mV Max 7 mV Max
CM VI 24 Vp-p* 0–28.5V*
IIO 200 nA 50 nA
IOB 500 nA −500 nA
CMRR 60 dB Min @ 100 Hz 85 dB Typ @ DC
90 dB Typ
en @ 1 kHz, RGEN 10 kΩ 45 nV/√Hz Typ 40 nV/√Hz Typ**
ZIN 200 MΩ Typ Typ 100 MΩ
AVOL 20k Min 100k Typ
100k Typ
fc 1.1 MHz Typ 1 MHz Typ **
PBW 14 kHz Typ 11 kHz Typ **
dVo/dt 0.8V/µs Typ 0.5V/µs Typ**
Vo @ RL = 10k/2k 24/20 Vp-p* 28.5 Vp-p
ISC 20 mA Typ Source 20 mA Min (40 Typ)
Sink 10 mA Min (20 Typ)
PSRR @ DC 37 dB Min 100 dB Typ
90 dB Typ
ID (RL = ∞) 8 mA Max 2 mA Max
‡ From laboratory measurement
*Based on VS = 30V on LM358 only, or VS = ± 15V
**From data sheet typical curves
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Single Supply Operation (Continued)

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FIGURE 1. Worst Case Signal Levels with +12V Supply

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FIGURE 2. Operating with AC Signals

AC Gain
For AC signals the input can be capacitor coupled. The input
common mode and quiescent output voltages are fixed at
one-half the supply voltage by a resistive divider at the
non-inverting input as shown in Figure 2. This quiescent
output could be set at a lower voltage to minimize power
dissipation in the LM358, if desired, so long as VQ ≥ VIN pk.
For the LM1458 the quiescent output must be higher, VQ ≥
3V + VIN pk thus, for small signals, power dissipation is much
greater with the LM1458. Example: Required VO = VQ ± 1V
pk into 2k, VSUPPLY = as required. Find quiescent dissipation
in load and amplifier for LM1458 and LM358.

The LM1458 requires over twice the supply voltage and

nearly 10 times the supply power of the LM358 in this
application.

Inverting DC Gain
Connections and biasing for DC inverting gain are essen-
tially the same as for the AC coupled case. Note, of course,
that the output cannot swing negative when operated from a
single positive supply. Figure 3 shows the connections and
signal limitations.

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Non-Inverting DC Gain Zero T.C. Input Bias Current
The non-inverting gain connection does not require the VQ An interesting and unusual characteristic is that IIN has a
biasing as before; the inverting input can be returned to zero temperature coefficient. This means that matched re-
ground in the usual manner for gains greater than unity, (see sistance is not required at the input, allowing omission of one
Figure 4). A tremendous advantage of the LM358 in this resistor per op amp from the circuit in most cases.
connection is that input signals and output may extend all the
way to ground; therefore DC signals in the low-millivolt range Balanced Supply Operation
can be handled. The LM1458 still requires that VIN =
3V–17V. Therefore maximum gain is limited to AV = (VO−3)/ The LM358 will operate satisfactorily in balanced supply
3, or AV max = 5.4 for a 20V supply. operation so long as a load is maintained from output to the
negative supply.
There is no similar limitation for the LM358.

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FIGURE 3. Typical DC Coupled Inverting Gain

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FIGURE 4. Typical DC Coupled Non-Inverting Gain

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FIGURE 5. Split Supply Operation of LM358

The output load to negative supply forces the amplifier to would be more severe than that expected with the normal op
source some minimum current at all times, thus eliminating amp. Since the single supply design took notice of this
crossover distortion. Crossover distortion without this load normal load connection to ground, a class AB output stage

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Use the LM158/LM258/LM358 Dual, Single Supply Op Amp
Balanced Supply Operation TABLE 2. Conventional Op Amp Circuits
(Continued) Suitable for Single Supply Operation
Application Limitations
was not included. Where ground referenced feedback resis-
tors are used as in Figure 5, the required load to the negative AC Coupled amp‡ VQ *
supply depends upon the peak negative output signal level Inverting amp VQ
desired without exhibiting crossover distortion. RL to the Non-inverting amp OK*
negative rail should be chosen small enough that the voltage
divider formed by RF and RL will permit Vo to swing negative Unity gain buffer OK
to the desired point according to the equation: Summing amp VQ
Difference amp VQ
Differentiator VQ
Integrator VQ
LP Filter VQ
RL could also be returned to the positive supply with the
advantage that Vo max would never exceed (VS+ − 1.5V). I–V Connector VQ
Then with ± 15V supplies RL MIN would be 0.12 RF. The PE Cell Amp OK
disadvantage would be that the LM358 can source twice as I Source
much current as it can sink, therefore RL to negative supply
I Sink OK
can be one-half the value of RL to positive supply.
Volt Ref OK
The need for single or split supply is based on system
requirements which may be other than op amp oriented. FW Rectifier VQ or modified circuit
However if the only need for balanced supplies is to simplify Sine wave osc VQ
the biasing of op amps, there are many systems which can
Triangular generator VQ
find a cost effective benefit in operating LM358’s from single
supplies rather than standard op amps from balanced sup- Threshold detector OK
plies. Of the usual op amp circuits, Table 2 shows those few Tracking, regulator PS Not practical
which have limited function with single supply operation. Programmable PS OK
Most are based on the premise that to operate from a single
supply, a reference VQ at about one-half the supply be Peak Detector OK to VIN = 0
‡ See AN-20 for conventional circuits
available for bias or (zero) signal reference. The basic cir-
*VQ denotes need for a reference voltage, usually at about
cuits are those listed in AN-20. OK means no reference voltage required

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