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Running a circuit without a regulator

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brownt

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what happens if I was to run a project on batteries without a regulator.

A microcontroller, a digital pot and a few LEDs

What sort of problems occur, or what is the disadvantage?
 

Depends on your components, don't you think? If the data sheet says a device can operate from 3.3 to 5 volts, and you hook it up to 6V, you'll probably damage it. If you hook it up to 3V, it probably won't work. It's pretty obvious.
 

What kind of batteries? What load? What circuit?
 

barry said:
Depends on your components, don't you think? If the data sheet says a device can operate from 3.3 to 5 volts, and you hook it up to 6V, you'll probably damage it. If you hook it up to 3V, it probably won't work. It's pretty obvious.
Click to expand...

Clearly obvious. So, the question is ......

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The circuit is a uC, a digital pot that interfaces to an external 5 Volt source, schottky protection diodes on the pot, and a power-on LED. uC is rated for 2.3 - 5.5 volts. I will be running it on 3 x AA's.
The load, whatever the micro, digital pot and the power-on LED draws, so maybe 10mA.

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I don't think there is any need for heavy duty batteries, provided they are leaking.
 

So the obvious answer is your circuit should work fine until the battery drops below 2.3 v. But you dont mention the digital pot's voltage.
 

Hi,

Simple answer:
There's absolutly no need for a regulator. No microcontroller datasheet says a regulator is mandatory.
You just need to be within the operating specifications of every device you use.
And you need to check if your overall application meets the desired function - within your specifications.
This means: It' s not just a question of power supply voltage ... frequencies may drift, ADC readings may drift, output levels may change...and a lot of other things may depend on supply voltage...

Klaus
 

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