> I know this is a bit of a stupid question but oh well.  :)
>
> I've got a 1.2V solenoid running off a 5V supply.  Right now I just drop
> the voltage with a resistor but this is wasteful as most of the power
> does not go to the solenoid, but is lost as heat in the resistor.
>
> I was looking around the net and saw that a better way to do a voltage
> drop is a zener, but isn't the same power wasted through the zener as
> the resistor?  Or is less wasted?
>
> I was thinking of using a voltage regulator but this seems like
> overkill.
>
> So what's a more efficient way to power the solenoid from the 5V supply?

        ANY linear method (resistor, zener, linear voltage regulator) will waste
the same amount of power. The only way to save power in your case is a
switcher, they can be as high as 95% efficient. Of course the cost can be
quite high, depending on what you've got. What is controlling the solenoid?
Is it possible that the "on" signal can be pulsed instead of just on? TTYL

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