Powering the AI-thinker A6 Advice

Projects General Guidance
1

I have the following AI-thinker A6 module

https://www.ebay.com/itm/A6-A7-Proto-Shield-GPRS-GSM-Module-Adapter-Quad-band-Antenna-900-1800-1900MHZ-W/332005258237?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

I would like to power it with a 3.7V lithium battery. I will also be powering a pro mini 3.3v arduino with the battery. Of course, I would like to get the most out of the battery. The system will be triggered on by a RTC and a small circuit once per day. Read 4 sensors, send a text message and then shut back off.

It looks like the ai-thinker has a voltage regulator on it for a 5.0V input. I know the chip runs on lower voltage. If I apply less voltage to the regulator, will it drop out and just bypass the voltage? Is there a way to bypass it? Should I use a boost regulator? The other option would be two 3.7v batteries connected in series, is this safe?

Thank you,

Anthony

2

Both boards seem to include a (3.3V?) voltage regulator, but are specified for a wider range of operating voltages. Feeding the voltage regulators from a 3.7V battery looks safe to me, at least for the proto shield.

It may be possible to bypass these voltage regulators and feed 3.7V directly to the boards. Not all voltage regulators support that reverse mode, eventually they should be removed. For low power consumption also the on-board LEDs can be removed.