Battery voltage regulating equipment

How does a voltage regulator work?

A typical approach is to use a voltage regulator, which produces a steady voltage source, capable of dealing with supply ripples. Voltage regulators are mainly divided into two categories: A linear regulator operates by using a voltage-controlled current source to force a fixed voltage to appear at the regulator output terminal.

Does a battery power source need to be regulated?

Even though a battery power source is a DC source, it still needs to be regulated in order to reduce ripple caused by spurious current bursts and isolate it from the rest of the electronics in the circuit. A typical approach is to use a voltage regulator, which produces a steady voltage source, capable of dealing with supply ripples.

What is a simple linear voltage regulator?

Simple linear voltage regulators have been around for a long time; but although they are low in cost, their dropout voltage— the minimum voltage drop across the pass transistor— is relatively high, usually between 1.5 and 3 V.

Are linear regulators more efficient than conventional regulators?

LDOs are more efficient than conventional linear regulators and extend a battery‘s useful operating voltage, but their voltage drop wastes precious power [ W = ( VIN — VOUT) × IL ]. All linear regulators require a higher input voltage than output voltage; they can only regulate down to the desired value, never boost up to it.

What is a charge controller / solar regulator?

Some charge controllers / solar regulators have additional features, such as a low voltage disconnect (LVD), a separate circuit which powers down the load when the batteries become overly discharged (some battery chemistries are such that over-discharge can ruin the battery).

How does a linear regulator work?

A linear regulator operates by using a voltage-controlled current source to force a fixed voltage to appear at the regulator output terminal. The control circuitry must monitor (sense) the output voltage, and adjust the current source (as required by the load) to hold the output voltage at the desired value.