Resistor Help

I want to reduce the voltage from 5 volts to 2.7 volts how can I go about doing this. The power source is a USB to an Xbox 360 wireless controller. The Xbox 360 controller runs on 2 AAs at 1.5v+1.5v=3v. I have rechargeable batteries that are at 1.2v+1.2v=2.4v. I want to get the controller up and running on 2.7 volts, which would be in the middle of 2.4v and 3v. i dont really know any thing about resistors so i was hoping some one could help me.

Do you know how much current it takes to operate the XBox controller? You may be overloading the USB port.

The right way to do this is to use an electronic IC voltage regulator, like an LM317. There are some other (not so good) ways using the forward voltage drop of one or more rectifier diodes, but it all depends on the current requirement.

The Xbox controller runs on 2.4v-3v. The current I want to supply it is 5v. I want to get the voltage down to 2.7v.

I'd suggest setting up a basic voltage divider with same-value resistors, which would give you 2.5 volts. Here's the circuit:



Just make sure R1 and R2 are the same.

Hope this helps!
Regards,
Matt

MikeMl said:

Do you know how much current it takes to operate the XBox controller? You may be overloading the USB port.

Click to expand...

That's a good point. The voltage divider won't do any good if the USB port can't supply enough current....