7.2 volt battery

[Trumpkin]

I was wondering if the $50 robot microcontroller can run  on a 7.2 volt battery pack.

[rgcustodio]

the robot should be able to handle a 7.2 battery pack:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/schematics_powerregulation.shtml

the part used, KA7805ETU-ND, can handle a max Vin (input voltage) of 35VDC according to the data sheet (Absolute Maximum Ratings on page 2):
http://www.fairchildsemi.com/ds/KA/KA7805E.pdf

[Trumpkin]

thx!

[Admin]

servos cannot handle 7.2V, but the microcontroller with the 5V regulator can.

[SkinnyDog]

Hi guys

 Newbe here, i think i also went a bit over kill when i ordered my battery got a 7.2v 3000mah only realised the size when i got it, the connector plug?male pins is a lot bigger(thicker gauge wire) will have to down size it through the on/off switch.

This will work?

Electronics is foreign to me as i studied Mechanical Eng. im ok putting it all together if shown how but the calculations and terms are a bit of o struggle, i did manage to get my solar engine to work from my gunk bot book, it did take some time though.

[gamefreak]

the gauge is generally for the amount of current being drawn, more current lower gauge, thicker wire

(thicker gauge wire)

lower gauge is thicker, dont ask me why. so as long as you dont have the full 3 amps, you should be fine but if your thinner wires start smoking/melting/exploding then you may have a problem

[frank26080115]

servos cannot handle 7.2V, but the microcontroller with the 5V regulator can.

Servos can, and my servos haven't failed yet

[SmAsH]

yea i usually use 9V or 6V motors and then a 7.2V pack. it usually works for me

~smash

[ed1380]

remember motors dont have electronics inside and they're ok with overvoltage, but servos arent

[Trumpkin]

yeah so basically i probably don't want to usea 7.2 volt battery with the $50 robot microcontroller. Just wondering cause I was planning on making a $50 robot microcontroller for some1 else and I had a 7.2 volt battery on hand. Couldn't I put a couple of diodes between the battery and microcontroller to reduce the voltage to 6v?

[ed1380]

you mean resistors, right? cause diodes wont help.

resistors would turn that extra enery into heat. same thing the regular 5v regulator does. get a switching regulator

[Admin]

Couldn't I put a couple of diodes between the battery and microcontroller to reduce the voltage to 6v?

I think it will work . . . check the diode datasheet to make sure it can handle your required voltage/current/power requirements.

[Trumpkin]

Ok, i'll try that, thx!

[airman00]

you mean resistors, right? cause diodes wont help.

resistors would turn that extra enery into heat. same thing the regular 5v regulator does. get a switching regulator

true , but diodes have a voltage drop of about 1 V