When I used an LDO voltage regulator I had to "target" a lower-than-necessary voltage for it to work properly. But having a constant voltage is not required in my case: I would better benefit from a higher power when the sun is shining a lot.
What are the tradeoff if I ditch the LDO regulator and I simply cap the maximum tension with a Zener diode as shown below?
I do not want the zener to draw energy while the circuit is idle, due to its leakage current. So I moved it "before" the usual schottky diode.
Also, I use a slightly higher zener value to compensate for the schottly voltage drop, so as to charge the cap to the maximum voltage that the circuit withstands.
Still, I have the weird feeling there is a drawback. Am I just too cautious?
Also, the tiny solar panel will probably not reach its dangerous 4V level when loaded. Actually, I could even wake the MCU up to keep a load when the tension is "too" high, but this is a riskier business I guess.
