"Howard Beal" fired this volley in news:ldejo6$rne$1
@speranza.aioe.org:

Build a regulator using a 7812 voltage regulator and some 2N3055
transistors. You could also use a LM317 and make output voltage
adjustable. Don't forget the crowbar on the output.

There are switching style regulators in the same load class. Sure, the
board becomes a little more complex, what with at least one inductor and
a fairly large smoothing capacitor, but its a far better solution for
battery power in the long run. Linear regulators suck for
portable/remote battery operation. Too much energy is thrown away as
heat.


Lloyd