CF4.0 with 11.1v battery pack?

[MoonDragn]

I agree Novastar, I think the simplest is what Erv suggested. Three IN4001 rectifier diodes will drop the voltage by 2.1 v (I believe the voltage drop is about .7 v per diode). The IN4001s have a max current rating of 1A though so you might want to use higher rated types but the idea is the same.

Would this be wrong? Could you convert "high" voltage X to 10v prior to going to CF and CF would be "none the wiser", so-to-speak?

The above diode solution still wastes the extra current/voltage as heat. To be more efficient, a switching voltage regulator would have a higher efficiency especially for cases where the input voltage is much higher than the output voltage

Btw, just so you guys know. Even though I have a EE degree, my expertise is in Digital electronics, I suck at power systems.

[Novastar]

...Three IN4001 rectifier diodes will drop the voltage by 2.1v... [but the] diode solution still wastes the extra current/voltage as heat. To be more efficient, a switching voltage regulator would have a higher efficiency especially for cases where the input voltage is much higher than the output voltage.

This I understand as well... that the diodes here would "burn off" the extra voltage as heat (much like a resistor's result)... and it'd be a bummer... but...

...if you REALLY wanted to use "11.1v" with CF--there ya go.

I also see where you're going with the whole idea of:

1. Ok, we have "11.1v", which is effectively a "true" 12v or 13v... too much for CF!!
2. Ok, I need to pull back on the reins here and not let so much current and voltage through!!! Whoa, Nelly!
3. Wait, hmm... I don't REALLY want to waste the extra V and A into heat--if I can possibly avoid it... but... can I?
4. Ok, I think I can do it. Sure, I COULD use rectifiers... but they'd still waste stuff. So... it's gonna go:

* BATTERIES (11.1v+) -->
* VOLTAGE & CURRENT GATE (in this case, you said "switching voltage regulator") -->
* CF ... and so now... CF is "none the wiser" that I ever began with > a true 11v... AND I'm going to benefit from the extra juice overall in the long run anyhow. Good stuff...

So... sweet! At least... I hope. That is... is this all just theory but in reality the solution is still flawed? Or... is it possible?

For all those who don't know... I have *NO* degree in EE or anything electronic-wise. I'm just a wise-guy with a sword or something...

[erv]

basically an among switching mode regulator isn't a "bad" idea, it's just that you're going to waste power a little bit. However, since the regulation is just stepping a volt or so from the batt pack effeciency could run up to 96 or 98% so... yes, why not