Is this battery OK

Using Arduino Project Guidance
#1

7.2 V 2000 mAh

I picked up a charger and battery like this one at Radio Shack. It was $5 on clearance so I figured what the hey...

I'm mostly messing with hobby servos now using 7805 regulators so I figured 7.2V would be a good fit. I plan on getting into little DC motors in the future.

Any input? I imagine they are for little speed demon cars and such...

#2

Definitely good.
I would use a DC-to-DC down-converter (<$5 on ebay) rather than a linear regulator like 7805.

#3

florinc:
Definitely good.
I would use a DC-to-DC down-converter (<$5 on ebay) rather than a linear regulator like 7805.

Thanks. I’ve been looking into switching regulators and other options. Seems like the 7805’s are a bit crude from what I’ve read.

#4

Nice buy on the battery. However don't attempt to wire 7.2vdc directly to most hobby type servos as they are normally rated to run at 4.5-6.0vdc. A +5vdc switching regulator is a very good choice. Note that using an arduino in a project you have a choice of using the 7.2vdc directly to the external power connector (or the Vin pin) or you can wire an external +5vdc regulator output directly to the arduino 5V pin.

#5

Example of a 7.2V DC to 5V DC converter

#6

Thanks! Another thing I didn't know existed.

#7