trying to reduce current consumption on a 12HV615

[Darrel Taylor]

The shunt regulator will always draw the same amount of current whether the PIC is asleep or awake.
That current is always MORE than the most that will ever be used by the PIC, including output pins.

As the PIC draws more current, the regulator "Shunts" less to maintain the same voltage.
When asleep, the regulator draws the full amount, since the PIC is drawing ~nothing.

If you want low current, use an external LDO regulator, and a different PIC.

[HankMcSpank]

+1


I use an MCP1703 (available in many variants with differing voltage outputs), it's very low quiescent currrent.

In sleep, I'm getting about 6uA draw for my whole circuit (though there's a lot of trial & error changing pin IOs TRISs Analogue on/off shutting down peripheral etc to get it down to that!).

[Max Power]

Thanks everybody. I was slowly realizing the same thing on my own, but it's nice to hear from you guys.

I'll look into the MCP1703, or other low Q LDOs