
When building IoT (Internet of Things) projects, one of the most crucial aspects is ensuring your devices run efficiently and safely, especially when working with low voltage. Low voltage power design can often be a headache for hobbyists and engineers alike. Too much or too little power can harm your components, leading to malfunction or complete failure of your project.
The Problem & Solution :
The issue often lies in choosing the right power supply for your IoT gateway, which typically operates at 3.3V, 5V, or 12V. Incorrect voltage can cause your gateway to behave erratically or even damage it. To fix this, the key is to ensure your power supply is stable and matches the voltage requirements of your components.
Practical Example :
Imagine you’re powering an IoT gateway that connects sensors to the cloud. If you use a 9V battery to power it, the gateway may receive too much voltage and overheat. To fix this, you could use a voltage regulator like an LM7805, which takes the 9V input and safely converts it to a stable 5V output.
Sample Calculation :
Let’s say you’re powering a 5V IoT device that consumes 200mA of current.
The LM7805 needs to drop the voltage from 9V to 5V, so:
- Power = Voltage × Current = 9V × 0.2A = 1.8W (input power)
- Output Power = 5V × 0.2A = 1W (output power)
- Power Dissipation = Input Power – Output Power = 1.8W – 1W = 0.8W
This 0.8W will be dissipated as heat, so ensure proper heat sinking!
Product Recommendations :
For your IoT projects, look into high-quality, Made in India components like voltage regulators and MOSFETs. Check out these components at SmartXProKits.
Shop now at SmartXProKits.in – Support our work and India’s innovation—buy from our Make in India site!
Written by smartxbrains
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