Hi,
Can I power an arduino nano with a 4.5v (3 1.5v batteries) supply. Will a high digital pin still output 5v?
Should I use a LTC3525 to bring the voltage up to 5v?
Thanks
C
In that you would even ask question #2 leaves great doubt that you could accomplish the results suggested in question #3.
But, yes, you could run a nano on 4.5 volts. But, you might want to read the data sheet (book) on the 328.
Connect the 4.5V to the 5V pin.
High outs will not exceed 4.5V.
Whether you boost that to 5V depends on what else you are connecting.
328P will run happily at 16 MHx down to ~3.8V
What I don't like is ... the battery voltage is unregulated.
Initially, the batteries will produce 4.5 Volts under load, but only when new.
Then soon the battery voltage will drop all the down below 3.0 volts.
And your Digital Outputs will drop in voltage, as well.
Also, the USB connection may try to RECHARGE your batteries.
Be careful, because 1.5V Alkaline Batteries are not rechargeable.
What size batteries?
How many milliamps total will your project consume?
Will you be using Analog Input?
If you Need 5V, then a boost/step up converter from pololu,com will work with as little as one 1.5V battery and boost thee output to 5V.