Questions and answers
Which electronic components are covered in this category?
The articles cover Sunon, Delta, AVC, and noname fans; capacitors; field-effect transistors; shunts; SMD resistors; and the MC34063 and QC 3.0 controllers.
Does this category include component testing?
Yes. Articles examine and test components such as transistors and fans, and discuss how capacitors affect converter ripple.
Can I find an explanation of how DC-DC converters work?
Yes. One article discusses DC-DC converter principles and the MC34063 controller.
Fans again: this time 50 mm models from Sunon and Delta, plus one no-name
1-02-2024, 15:00
Another saga of choosing and buying a fan for my new adjustable power supply based on the RD6012P. I think it will be useful and interesting.
Interesting 70 mm AVC fans
11-05-2023, 13:26
Continuing the discussion about electronic loads. As everyone knows, a load is something that usually gets very hot. And when something gets hot, it sometimes needs cooling. The most common solution is a heatsink, and when that isn't enough, you add a fan as well. Fans aren't exactly cheap in local stores these days, especially high-performance ones, so I ordered some from China.

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A few capacitors and how they affect a converter’s ripple level

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14-07-2019, 02:17
Recently, I wrote that I’d bought a selection of different electronic components at our local shop. Among them were electrolytic capacitors of various types, which I needed for a small modification to one of my converters. Today I’ll tell you how simply replacing a capacitor can significantly change a converter’s—or power supply’s—performance.
PSMN020-150W and PSMN040-200W, MOSFETs for linear-mode operation, plus an "extra" in the form of an IRFP260M
16-04-2019, 13:57
Not long ago, I reviewed some really "wild" and mysterious transistors marked IXUS, which I bought on Taobao for an electronic load. But some time has passed, and I've decided to take another risk and order a few more types of transistors that are designed from the outset to operate in DC mode, making them suitable for use in the power stage of electronic loads.
Current-sense shunts, 1–47 mΩ, 0.5%, from Isabellenhütte
28-01-2019, 03:55
Continuing my series on components, I decided to post a review of current-sense shunts from the well-known company Isabellenhütte. I also needed these shunts for the power stage of an electronic load, and since I was ordering from one seller, I decided to get a variety and ended up ordering 6 values. I'll say right away: these are interesting shunts, but as always, more details in the review.
QC 3.0 controller for repairing a charger
27-01-2019, 04:53
Not long ago, I posted a review of a QC 3.0 charger. It was very inexpensive when I bought it, but turned out to be not fully functional. In fact, the QC feature itself didn't work. To fix it, I found the right chip on Taobao, ordered it, repaired the charger, and decided to report back in case it might help someone.
IXTK90N25L2, or how I bought used transistors on Taobao
21-01-2019, 10:49
While working on the power stage for my new electronic load, I thought about using proper transistors to dissipate the “extra” energy, and the IXTK90N25L2 from IXYS caught my eye. But new ones from a reputable source cost a serious amount of money, so when putting together another Taobao order, I decided to buy some. More details after the jump.
Samwha BL capacitors, a strange cable, and a little about modifying drivers on an assembly line
9-01-2019, 03:33
Following up on my review of buying ceiling lights, I decided to write an article about modifying their drivers—or, more precisely, about some interesting capacitors from Samwha, different types of electrical cable, and the details of working when you have a lot of boards to modify. I hope you find it interesting and useful.
2512 SMD resistors rated at 20 mΩ
6-01-2019, 04:09
As I was developing my new electronic load, I needed some low-resistance resistors. There was no rush, so I decided to order them from AliExpress. Find out how that turned out in this mini-review.

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MC34063: One of the most common PWM (pulse-width modulation) controllers, plus a brief introduction to how DC-DC converters work.

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19-01-2015, 02:11
A while ago, I published a review showing how to build a PWM regulator using a KR142EN5A. I also mentioned one of the most common and probably cheapest controllers for DC-DC converters: the MC34063. Today, I'll try to add to that earlier review.



