Voltage question for the folks in the know.

[McCordRM]

Ok, so I'm curious about a couple of things in reference to lowering a batteries' output.

1. Does it hurt a battery to run at a lower voltage?
2. Will said battery run longer, or the same amount of time, on the same charge if you're decreasing its voltage.
3. Is it easier to maintain an even voltage output?


I ask because we have 9v batteries on the market. (Yes, I know their mah
sucks. I'm using 9v as an example). So if you use a 9v battery at 5 volts,
will you actually be able to maintain a steady 5v from full charge till empty
charge?

 

[jj2]

There's a thread on batteries and how to treat them.
I'd try the modders section.

 

[McCordRM]

Yea, I was reading through that forum. This was posted here since not everyone that
understands voltages/batteries is necessarily a Modder.

 

[lunaras]

I'm not saying it can't be done, but how would you go about using a battery at a lower voltage? If you use a resistor or a regulator to lower to voltage delivered to the atty, the battery is still delivering it's full voltage, but the regulator or resistor just converts the excess voltage to heat. Maybe I'm missing something....

 

[McCordRM]

<shrug>
Beats me, that's why I asked.

 

[NickJuice]

I'm not saying it can't be done, but how would you go about using a battery at a lower voltage? If you use a resistor or a regulator to lower to voltage delivered to the atty, the battery is still delivering it's full voltage, but the regulator or resistor just converts the excess voltage to heat. Maybe I'm missing something....

Thats the only way Lunaras...all 5v mods use some sort of added resistance(For instance a Resistor) or a Regulator to lower voltage

1. Does it hurt a battery to run at a lower voltage?

This doesn't harm the battery in any way...because Yes the battery is still giveing out rated voltage...now if the resistor or Regulator is Close to the battery....the resistor or regulators tend to run hot...and may cause damage

2. Will said battery run longer, or the same amount of time, on the same charge if you're decreasing its voltage.

With this question...i can only tell you *I'm pretty sure* I'm pretty sure that while using a resistor or Regulator a battery will have the same or very close to the same life span as without the Resistor or Regulator...Now with saying that...no regulator or Resistor operates at 100% efficency...so SOME power is lost in the mix, and different resistors and regulators offer different stages of Efficency...Some regulators only provide 5v between 6v-8v so will stop working before the batteries are completely dead, resistors work by percentages...etc. there are ALOT of veriables thats why i can only give a *I'm pretty sure* with this question

3. Is it easier to maintain an even voltage output?

While using a Regulator YES, With a Resistor, NO....

Usually a Regulator will have a Set output Voltage based on input voltage...i.e. feed it 6v-8v, you get 5v till it drops below 6v...Very even Voltage output

a Resistor works in a different way...your adding resistance in front of the battery...Feed it 7v you get 5.5v, 6.5v you get 5v, 6v you get 4.5v ect. The voltage output depends entirely upon the resistors value (.5ohm, 1ohm, 1.5ohm) and your batteries voltage

 

[McCordRM]

Awesome, thanks.