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Power ESP with two x 3.3V linear regulators?
Posted:
Tue Oct 18, 2016 1:27 pmby Damian Allen
Question on power supply efficiency: if I'm running an ESP8266 off a 9V battery putting out an effective current of 8V, would it be most efficient to put two 3.3V regulators in series across the battery, then combining their outputs in parallel? Or would that cause a problem with the ground line?
Re: Power ESP with two x 3.3V linear regulators?
Posted:
Tue Oct 18, 2016 3:19 pmby martinayotte
I think you need to do some studies. You can NOT have voltage regulator in series, and placing there output in parallel is even worst.
What you can do is having a 5V regulator with its input on the 9V, use this 5V output for some circuitry such relays, and using this 5V as the input of a 3.3V regulator where its output is for the ESP itself.
Re: Power ESP with two x 3.3V linear regulators?
Posted:
Tue Oct 18, 2016 4:59 pmby Damian Allen
That's actually what I figured. The problem is, all the other circuitry is going to be intermittently driven (PWM). How well would a linear regulator handle rapid voltage changes (say 240 pulses per second)?
Re: Power ESP with two x 3.3V linear regulators?
Posted:
Wed Oct 19, 2016 4:48 amby eduperez
Damian Allen wrote:That's actually what I figured. The problem is, all the other circuitry is going to be intermittently driven (PWM). How well would a linear regulator handle rapid voltage changes (say 240 pulses per second)?
Are you sure you want to use a linear regulator, instead of a switching regulator?
In any case, adding a capacitor in parallel with the regulator's input should solve the issue.