Electrical – Powering 3.3V I2C from Arduino 5V

3.3v5vi2clevel-shiftingvoltage-regulator

I need my Arduino to communicate with a fairly sensitive 3.3V I2C device, and am using a Bidirectional Level Converter to step down the voltage.

However, I still need a 3.3V source (for the I2C device and Level Converter), and the Arduino shield I am using is blocking the 3.3V pin.

My question to you all: what is the best (easiest/cheapest/most efficient) way to get 3.3V to that I2C device?

My options as I see them: make a voltage divider from the 5V (pictured), buy a $1 voltage regulator, or do solder-surgery on the ardu-shield so I can use it.

Edit: I should clarify this is NOT a small stationary project. The choice needs to be durable and repeatable/manufacturable.

Option 1 (looks super inefficient):

Logic Converter circuit

Best Answer

Using a voltage divider to generate a power rail is most often a bad idea, as you don't know what your current draw is, and you don't know if it will be a constant current draw. Think about how inaccurate your divider will be with a circuit sucking 20 milliamps from it. It's a calculation worth doing.

This is what voltage regulators are for. Try http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Microchip/MCP1702-3302E-TO/?qs=jZi1jxfVU95RAHKJCz8stQ%3D%3D&gclid=CMyooOLjss4CFdcZgQodzxQCBw for a 50 cent part - but you need to verify that it can deal with enough current for your purposes.

As to whether it's worth your time to dork around with your board/shield, thats up to you.