Harold Hallikainen wrote:

> so I just did a zener regulator (two series resistors, zener to ground,
> 1uF ceramic across the zener). I think this should do fine in an
> automotive environment. The zener provides reverse battery protection,
> the RC provides spike protection in case the zener is not fast enough.

With many digital components now working over a rather wide voltage range,
the zener diode seems to get new use as inexpensive regulator.
Specifically, I don't think there's much that can beat a double zener
circuit in terms of robustness for the buck -- if you have the headroom, of
course, and for lowish currents.

Gerhard

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