I'm just getting started with hobby electronics and I am planning to build a simple temp/humidity with an OLED display and install in into my vehicle. I am planning to use a Arduino MINI to read the BMP280 sensor and write the current temp out to a OLED display. I realize that I will need to do something to knock down the voltage, as well as regulate it coming off of the alternator. I was thinking about using something like this:
I know that is will step down the voltage from 12V to 5V like I need it to, but will it also protect the Arduino from Voltage spikes as well? If not, what can I do to be able to safely power my Arduino from my vehicle?
Offhand i would think it would work because the buck has an input cap and output cap and they are isolated voltage wise from each other in the sense that a fast changing input voltage can not get to the output immediately because there is an inductor in between.
It does however depend on the value of the inductor. A small value will not do as much as a higher value to reduce spurious transients.
If you can find out the values of the components we might be able to tell more. The value of the inductor however looks like it's only 47uH, which isnt that much really. I cant make out the chip number though but i am guessing LM2596 or similar.
Sometimes you just have to make a measurement like with a scope to find out for sure.
It might also be possible to follow it up with a linear regulator. That would help a little too. The output of the buck could be set to maybe 8v and the output of the linear set to the desired 5v. Just one idea. You loose a little more power but gain a little more protection.
