Power Supply Requirements

Op-amps need the power supply to drive an application. One is a positive power supply VDD and another one is negative power supply VSS. We also can choose ground as VSS.

In order to make op-amps work in the right functions, the voltage difference between VDD and VSS must stay in a certain range, otherwise, it may not operate as expected.

Quiescent Current is the amount of current consumed by op-amp when it is not performing any work. Low quiescent current is an important characteristic of op-amps. Especially for a battery powered application, it will affect battery life.

When adding a load to an op-amp, the current into the VDD pin primarily goes through the op-amp output stage and then through the load. Normally, the internal integrated circuit of op-amp includes three stages: the first stage is a differential stage, the second stage is the high gain stage, and the third stage is a very low impedance output stage.

The picture below shows the MCP601 power supply specification.