I'm trying to build a wireless led strip using the esp8266 controller and ws2812 addressable led strip using battery power, but I'm a bit stuck on how to build the circuit.
After a bit of research I'm seeing that step-down converters are rather inefficient due to heat loss, so I'm thinking I could use a 2 AA batteries in series, with the positive connected in parallel to one 5V boost converter for the led strip and one 3.3V boost for the controller. These are the converters I've found:
https://www.pololu.com/product/2565
https://www.pololu.com/product/2563
Here's a sketch of the circuit (sorry if my symbols are not quite right):
Would this work as intended? I want to keep the price as low as possible, and the converters essentially double the cost of the project (~$15 for the strip and controller). However, if I use 4 AA batteries and step down converters then efficiency drops, and I want the battery to last as long as possible.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Best Answer
A step down or buck regulator tends to be just as or better than a comparable step up or boost regulator, in terms of efficiency. Both refer to switching regulators. There are also buck-boost regulators that can do both, allowing it to regulate through the input voltage range of a battery supply.
You are confusing a switching step down regulator with a linear regulator, essentially a large resistor, who's efficiency goes down sharply as input - output voltage increases as well as current increases.