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Ardiuno voltages - Beginner

8bit

Oct 30, 2013
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I just wondered why the Uno board has a 3.3v input plus a 9v input, seems a rather big variation in range(?)
 

(*steve*)

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Isn't the Uno 5V?

One input (the lower one) is the voltage the microcontroller runs from. You must supply the correct voltage here.

The other one (the higher one) is an input to a voltage regulator. This will provide the lower voltage to for the microcontroller from a less accurate but higher voltage. If using this, the lower voltage pin can be tapped for a small amount of current.
 

Austin Clark

Aug 29, 2016
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I just wondered why the Uno board has a 3.3v input plus a 9v input, seems a rather big variation in range(?)

The Uno doesn't really have a 3.3V input. That's an OUTPUT, coming from an on-board 3.3V regulator. It's just convenient to have, since many electronics that you will likely use with the Arduino run at 3.3V.

The microcontroller on the Arduino can technically run at either 3.3V or 5V, but is usually 5V (as is the case with the Arduino, which also has a 5V regulator for this purpose). The "9V" input provides power to the 5V and 3.3V regulators (should you choose to use them).
 

8bit

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Many thanks for the info. So anything higher than 9v would burn the board out?
 

(*steve*)

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No, I think they recommend 7 to 12V with 6 to 20 bring acceptable (check that though)

At higher voltages the regulator will get quite hot.
 

8bit

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Thanks. The reason I ask is that I am building a project that I would like to run with rechargeable AA batteries. The problem is the battery packs I have hold 8 batteries. 8x 1.5v would be around 12V and I was worried it would burn the board.
 

Bluejets

Oct 5, 2014
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Arduino have a "raw" input that will take up to 12v. Either use nicads or nimh as dry cells will go over this level when new and arduino will be damaged. I'd be investing in a smaller holder and run the uc from a lower level.
 
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(*steve*)

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From the Arduino web site:

One final note. The Arduino's on-board regulator can actually handle up to 20V or more, so you can actually use an adapter that puts out 20V DC. The reasons you don't want to do that are twofold: you'll lose most of that voltage in heat, which is terribly inefficient. Secondly, the nice 9V pin on the Arduino board will actually be putting out 20V or so, which could lead to potential disaster when you connect something expensive to what you thought was the 9V pin. Our advice is to stick with the 9V or 12V DC adapter.
If you're powering it with batteries, keeping it between 9 and 12V is a good aim, but if new alkaline cells take it to 13.5V, you'll be fine.
 

Bluejets

Oct 5, 2014
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Thanks Steve, I stand corrected.
Trouble is many times when one reads entries on the forums, some come up with figures that support my statement, and they are well known pro's at the game too.
Still, overall it seems a bit over the top to want to supply a uc with 12v when it mostly runs on 5v.
Guess one must provide for all users.
For one, the battery is too large, for others they can't get it big enough, can't win.
Bit like the three bears. ;)
 

(*steve*)

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Other than is really hard to get a 7*AA cell holder, 7 cells would be near perfect.

I guess you could make a dummy battery to fill the 8th slot...

But then the batteries tend to come in 2's, 4's, 8's, etc., so you'd always have one battery left over.
 

8bit

Oct 30, 2013
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Thanks all. Yes the battery holders do come in rather odd configurations. I have one that holds 3 AA, one that holds 2 and another that holds 8. :s
 

8bit

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Actually I have dug out a battery holder that takes 8 AAs. It would add up to 12v but I guess the rechargeable batteries won't be that efficient so the final voltage will be a little less(??)
 

BobK

Jan 5, 2010
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NiMH are nominally 1.2V, so you will get about 9.6V typically. But they do charge to about 1.4V so you will get 11.2V when they are freshly charged.

Bob
 

8bit

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NiMH are nominally 1.2V, so you will get about 9.6V typically. But they do charge to about 1.4V so you will get 11.2V when they are freshly charged.

Bob

Appreciate the info. Thanks Bob.
 

Arouse1973

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Dec 18, 2013
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A lot of circuits designed for 9 volts were so you could run them from PP3 batteries. It probally a historic thing having an input for 9 Volts.
Adam
 
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