> I would like to thank everyone who answered my question.  Currently, I am
> thinking of placing a zener diode Vz=2.7.  I think this would consume the
> least amount of current.  Would I be terribly wrong with this assumption?

That's not a good assumption..

YOUR ORIGINAL SPEC WAS:

I am using a 3.6V lithium battery in one of me designs.  In order to save
battery life, I need to go 2.8V, at *most* 2.7V.  How could I achieve this?
I think I can just throw a diode, but this will give me .6V or .7V drop.  I
want to drop to between 2.7V and 2.8V.  Is there a way to achieve this?
I think a detailed reading of the replies would have given better ideas than
that.

SO

A zener that is "just" not taking any current when the battery is at its
lowest level will be wasting power for the entire rest of the time.

If you want minimum energy loss overall then -

Best     Switching regulator
Next    Linear series regulator with ultra low dropout voltage
Worst    Shunt regulator (zener etc)

If energy efficiency is not an issue and the zener's "soft" regulation curve
is OK then it may do the job..


        Russell McMahon.

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