I was trying to help, but appropriately, once I had enough information.
As this is not my thread, I'll make this my final post here,
I was trying too to tell him that it is possible to get 12vdc out of his 16vdc, this is my opinion and if he likes, I can do it for him. This was not against your opinion; still you have a chance to prove your opinion.
You should be more methodical and less critical in your approach to problems my friend!
If I'm critical in my approach, I'll start my post with the things you stated about the dropout voltage and many things in post #2.
Instead, I put my practical idea for him, that I’ve did it in the real life more than 20 times ( if I recall ).
My friend, if you fell offended, I’m sorry , I’m almost 5 years in this forum I’ve never been in such situation, and if One lesson I've learned here, is "NOT TO OFFENSE anybody regardless what he wrote".
This is the place where everybody got to help each other to learn as much as possible, with no offense of any kind.
(Sorry for the OP for taking his space)
Thank you