Before, I'm using 7805 (T0-220 package) on my previous projects but I realized at the end it has a high quiescent current. I'm planning to use LM2936 or LP2954 to power my board which has 1 RF transceiver module and PIC16f877a. I'll be using the 9v rectangle battery as my input voltage. Which do you think is better? Or you have other 5v IC regulator suggestions?
Since our project is a mobile robot I think it would be good if it could last at least 3 hours but I don't know if it's possible. Maybe 2 hours is possible. I have separate 4 AA batteries for the motors.
Any linear regulator will simply waste current, you could try a switchmode regulator or just a diode and connect directly to the PIC from your 4AA supply.
Any linear regulator will simply waste current, you could try a switchmode regulator or just a diode and connect directly to the PIC from your 4AA supply.
Sorry guys but I have to revive this thread. Is it okay? I finally decided to use 6v SLA battery for this one. I don't think I can use your suggestions above because most of them are not available in our city. Will it have no problems if I use the diodes for the voltage reduction? I'm not familiar what diode it is and what's the placement. Can you help me again here?
Any diode can drop the voltage, just look for the 'forward voltage' of the diode and whatever it is will be the amount the voltage is reduced by, generally rectifier diodes have a forward voltage of 0.7v.
All to have to do to get this to work is put the diode in series with the power supply.