I often see people complain about the arduino power circuit, if you had a chance to redesign it what would you change.
Is there a better power circuit that can work to replace the one on the Arduino.
I currently run a perfboard standalone that I feed off a converted pc power supply and am looking at tackling a small power circuit board to feed the Arduino everything it needs to but also has the juice to drive the rails at an acceptable common level but compact unlike the PC power supply.
Any opinions on what the best outputs would be like 5v and X ma to feed the arduino and 3.3-5v X ma switchable on the on the rails.
I guess what Im saying is what would your dream power supply circumstances be for a breadboard installed arduino?
The auto power select circuit is a nice feature but wastes board space, which is why in my design (http://geekstudio.co.za/products/zardino) I chose to forego the auto power select in favour of a manual power select, but instead of using an awkward jumper I put in a slide switch. Although there are still pads for a jumper if someone can't get a slide switch. It also gave me some extra board space I needed to make up for the surface mount components and wider tracks I wanted to use to make it easier to make the board.
Sometimes simpler is better and I like the ability to use the slide switch as a power switch when you have either the usb or the external power connected.
For redesigning the power circuit I would try to get some kind of integrated solution.
For a breadboard Arduino I wouldn't want too much current because that can fry the board. I think breadboards can handle up to a couple of Amps but not for too long. So for a breadboard power supply maybe 2A could be nice.
I am going to try to do this as my first pcb etch and am hoping to keep it in a small footprint, similar in size to the section on the Arduino board, so it wont be going to high, was jsut trying to figure out if there were some subtle changes that would make it closer to what people would expect and want.
I agree on the auto select vs switch and was already leaning that way.
pololu.com here in the US also switching adapters like the one Grumpy_Mike's link, both stepdown regulators and also boost (step up?) regulators.
I like the idea they have for battery holders with the boost regulator mounted to it.
I'd rather see the power kept separate so folks can attach what they need for their needs.
I for example am building a wireless remote, it currently has a 5V MiniPro running on 3 AA batteries. I am waiting for a 3.3V Minipro that I want to try running on 3.7V 1000mAH Li Ion battery, have a Maxim Li Ion battery charge control board coming as well to charge it from 5V or from a USB charger. Just need to find a panel mount USB jack now - am sure they exist, just haven't looked yet. Or will fall back to a 2.1mm jack, as I think I've seen USB to 2.1mm cables somewhere just for power.