Voltage Regulating

[sonikin]

In a data acquisition project I am currently working on, I have several IR sensors that require a strict 5V input (1.5mA supply current). The problem is that my DAQ recorder supplies ~5V (I measure around 4.8V usually) of unregulated voltage, which causes these sensitive sensors to go haywire.

What would be a more appropriate/simple/cheap/small packaging approach:

A) step up the 4.8V to a regulated 5V?
B) step down my 13V battery (which powers the rest of the systems) to a regulated 5V?
C) Other

In the case of B, would I need to protect my sensors from the powerful battery since they have such a small supply current?

Thanks.

 

[BobK]

For 1.5 ma a linear regulator on the 13V battery is fine. You do not need any additional protection, the sensor will draw only what it needs as long as the input voltage is correct. A 78L05 should work fine and it come in the TO92 package.

Bob

 

[davelectronic]

5 volts steady

Hi there. I agree with BobK.

 

[(*steve*)]

Step down is always preferable to step up. For such small currents (presuming there are no other issues) a linear regulator is ideal.

I concur.