[![The display working and not working](https://i.stack.imgur.com/BD2dd.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/BD2dd.jpg)

I have an esp8266 on [a breakout board for programming](https://www.tindie.com/products/blkbox/esp8266-esp-01-programming-and-development-board/) hooked up to an OLED via GPIO 0 and 2. It works fine if I power it via the FTDI/USB. It also works when I power it at 2.8-3.0V using a desktop variable power supply. But no matter how I connect a battery it won't work. I don't want the breakout board in my final project and I want it to be powered by lipo. I've tried making a voltage divider but the divider did not produce the voltage my calculations indicated. 

I have 220 and 550 ohm resistor to bring the 4.04v of the battery down to 2.9v but when connected it takes it down to 1.1v which is not enough to power the esp8266 wifi module. I tried adding a capacitor over the +/- rails to improve the current, but I'm honestly still learning how that works. 

The esp8266 works fine at a wider range of currents but the OLED seems to be very sensitive. 

How can I get this working with the battery?