How can I reduce 12 volts to 3 volts?

Question

I have a sawmill that uses a 12 volt battery for cranking and other controls. I want to add a red laser that only uses 3 volts. How do I reduce the 12 volts to 3 volts?

Answer 1

There is a reason the sawmill uses a 12 V battery.;For the high current it provides.
You can use a voltage divider (a pair of resistors) to drop it down to 3V, but then the current will be shared by both the sawmill and the laser.

Just buy two more 1.5V batteries for your laser. It is easier and everything will work..

Answer 2

Resistor bank in paralllel with sawmill with various size resisetors to get 3 volt drop on one, hook lsser across this resistor. ....Nuf Said

Answer 3

hai,
i believe ur laser system needs below one ampere.
just buy a regulator IC 7803
it have three legs. when u look from front side,(the label side in front of u and legs downside) connect 12v to the left handed side leg, ground to middle leg and u can get 3volt from the right handed side leg. u can take maximum one ampere by using this circuit.
this is the easiest and cheaper way

give a try
best of luck

Answer 4

transformer, look for something like a cellphone car charger..it takes 12v incoming and will break it down to a lower voltage, just look around for something that takes 3v.