I have a circuit running from 9v regulated, but I need 1.5v for one of the components. What's the best way to get it? It will draw VERY little power. Microamps.
Do I just get a 1.5v regulator or are there some other tricks that would be more cost/power/component effective?
The easiest way is to put a zener in series with a current limiting resistor across the output and tap resistor/zenet junction for the output.The value of the resistor could be calculated, if you know the maximum current of your load.I do not know whether you can get a 1.5V regulator.
A resistor/zener would be fine, except it's hard to find standard low-voltage zeners with breakdown voltages less than 3.3V (I've seen some as low as 2.4V). The classic LM317 can regulate down to 1.2V using two resistors and a couple of filter caps. The regulator will dissipate (7.5V x ?uA) uW, the large voltage drop isn't a problem at such low load currents.