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voltage divider not working when load is applied
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abdullahseba:
Hi
I have a wemos D1 mini pro that I want to power with a 3.7v LiPo battery and a TP4056 module.



I have a 91k and a 750k resistor acting as voltage dividers on the output of the module to reduce the voltage from 3.7v to 3.3v.
Measuring the output of the divider directly does give 3.35v as expected. However if I connect the D1 mini to it, all I get is 0.6v and the wemos does not power on.
Nothing gets hot and the charging module shows the battery as fully charged. The D1 mini works fine with USB power.
Here is a schematic of the D1 mini:
https://wiki.wemos.cc/_media/products:d1:sch_d1_mini_pro_v1.1.0.pdf
I have the voltage divider output connected to the 3.3v and GND pin. There is no diode, so it should work.
I have the TP4056 module's input connected to the 5v pin of the D1 mini. This lets me charge the battery when the D1 is plugged in and works fine. I have tried disconnecting it though to make sure that was not the issue but I still get 0.6v.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
Karlo_Moharic:
You are putting to much load on your voltage divider (it uses too much current). You need voltage regulator.
Something like this

https://www.ebay.com/itm/5PCS-5V-3-3V-DC-DC-Step-Down-Power-Supply-Buck-Module-AMS1117-LDO-800MA/201662468680?hash=item2ef4051248:g:Ga0AAOSwMgdXzhOz
abdullahseba:

--- Quote from: Karlo_Moharic on May 05, 2018, 10:52:53 pm ---You are putting to much load on your voltage divider (it uses too much current). You need voltage regulator.
Something like this

https://www.ebay.com/itm/5PCS-5V-3-3V-DC-DC-Step-Down-Power-Supply-Buck-Module-AMS1117-LDO-800MA/201662468680?hash=item2ef4051248:g:Ga0AAOSwMgdXzhOz

--- End quote ---
Damn, The problem is its only 3.7 to 3.3V.
I'll try this thing https://www.amazon.co.uk/KKmoon-Converter-Module-Battery-Development/dp/B075FSL1LW
IanB:
Also a lithium ion battery does not produce 3.7 V; the voltage varies with the state of charge and the load between 4.2 V and 3.3 V or so.
PA4TIM:
Are you trying to feed the D1 via the voltage divider ?  Without a load there is 5uA going to the divider. 
If you measure 0,6V  there is a 3,1 voltage drop over the 91k  there is 34 uA running to the resistor.  800nA for the 750k resistor and 33uA for the D1. That is not enough.

Use a low drop 3V3 voltage regulator
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