- Sat Oct 03, 2015 12:00 pm
#30421
Thanks very much for the comments. As a result, I have done some homework and redesign using a TC1262 LDO (500 mA) and a LP0701 P-channel MOSFET.
For the regulators, I obtained the TC1262, MCP1825s, and MCP1725. All three are 500 mA and they have similar specifications in my view. The MCP1725 has a “power good” output that may have some uses. For now I am using the TC1262. All three have a 6 volt input limit and if I move from 4X AA 1.2 NiMH batteries to 1.5v alkaline, I will use 3X AA to keep the input voltage away from the limit.
Learning about the MOSFET replacement for the PNP has been challenging and some of it is starting to make sense. I chose the LP0701. Key specifications for me: Id, -500 mA; Vgs~0.7v.
I have not put capacitors in the schematic but will be using them before and after the regulator. I will also test a higher value resistor for R1 (2.2k-4.7k).
The new version of the circuit appears above. It has been bread boarded and is testing just fine. But it is a limited test – I am simply turning on an LED for 5 sec on an alarm occurring every minute. After I do some more coding with the RTC, I will start to move it to an ESP8266 and move forward.
Again, I very much appreciate the feedback and please do comment further if the mood strikes you.
Cheers,
DrG
Last edited by DrG on Sat Oct 03, 2015 12:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.