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DC-DC converters: differences and how to choose the right one

Sometimes it feels like voltage converters are everywhere, even in places where you wouldn't expect to find them.
You can find them in power banks, smartphones, TV boxes, computers, USB hubs, routers, and many other devices.

But converters are also sold as standalone modules, intended for everything from hobbyist projects to professional use. And today, we're going to talk about these "invisible helpers".

As usual, a reminder: to keep up with new posts on the blog, I recommend following me on Instagram, where I'll post notifications about every new topic and maybe write about something interesting too — link to my account


Voltage converters fall into three main groups:
1. Step-down
2. Step-up
3. Universal

The third type is further divided into three subgroups:
1. Units made up of two converters, a step-up followed by a step-down. These are most often called Buck-Boost converters.
2. Universal converters that automatically switch between step-down and step-up modes
3. SEPIC, a fully universal converter

Converters can also have additional features:
1. Galvanic isolation between input and output
2. Multiple output voltages
3. Output voltage inversion
4. Current and/or voltage adjustment
5. Display
6. Support for fast-charging protocols such as Quick Charge, Power Delivery, etc.

Even this list of options (not counting combinations) makes it clear that there are a huge number of converter models. And there are other differences too, such as the ability to connect to a computer, ultra-low standby power consumption, an extended input voltage range, a synchronous rectifier for higher efficiency, and so on.

Also, keep in mind that linear regulators ("KRENki") are not converters. In simplified terms, converters are "DC transformers": for example, with an output of 5 V at 3 A and an input of 15 V, the input current will be proportionally lower. With linear regulators, by contrast, the current is always the same.

Step-down voltage converters.
They are usually based on a Step-Down topology, and the input voltage must be about 5–20% higher than the output voltage.


Compact synchronous converters based on the MP2225 have become increasingly popular lately. They claim a maximum output current of up to 5 A, which is very impressive for their size. Here are links to the first and second modules.
There's also the rather unusual DC-DC power module DD4012SA, which comes in a "KRENka" package and can replace one while improving efficiency.



Converters based on the LM2596S, XL4005, and XL4015 chips are well known among electronics hobbyists. The second and third options are more noteworthy. The controllers in these series are generally genuine, even though they were designed in China, whereas the LM2596 is often counterfeited.
These converter models provide output currents of up to 3 or 5 A, adjustable voltage, and an input voltage range from 4–5 V up to 30–40 V. Their key advantage is good load performance at a fairly low price.


Sometimes you'll find two, or even three, trimmer resistors on boards like these. The second is usually for adjusting the current limit, and if there's a third, it's used to set the threshold for the current-limit indicator. Boards like these are used wherever current limiting is needed, for example to power high-power LED arrays or charge batteries. At the same time, these boards are sometimes fitted with a voltage and current display, making them even more convenient to use and essentially turning them into universal chargers., P
First board, second and third.


More powerful versions are also available, for example, based on the popular XL4016 controller. They are usually rated for load currents of up to 8–12 A, and sometimes an ammeter-voltmeter is added to these boards to make a basic bench power supply.
If that's still not enough, the converter shown on the right, for example, has current limiting, an input voltage range of 20–70 V, and an output current of up to 30 A at 2.5–58 V. You could use one like this to power a car refrigerator from a 24 V battery.
First board, second and third



Step-up converters
This is another interesting and useful category of devices, though not as common.
First, it's worth explaining one feature of most Step-Up converters that may help you avoid burning out your device or the converter. Converters built using this topology cannot produce an output voltage lower than the input voltage minus the voltage drop across the diode. In other words, if the input is 20 V, the output cannot be lower than 19.5 V. This is important and should be taken into account.
Also keep in mind that if a step-up converter lists a maximum output current, that is most likely the current at the minimum input-to-output voltage ratio. It's better to look at the maximum input current and calculate the converter's power.
Taking these points into account will help you avoid mistakes and use step-up converters more efficiently and safely.



A couple of popular models stand out right away. They cost very little and cover most DIYers' needs.
The first two models are built around the SX1308 and MT3608 controllers. One useful feature is that they start working at 1.8–2 V, which is critical for battery-powered devices.
The third converter uses an XL6009. Its minimum input voltage is 5 V, and its output power is slightly higher than the previous models, but overall they're very similar. The SX1308 and MT3608 are more appealing because of their smaller size.

These converters are handy for powering low-power loads, such as 12 V LED strip lighting from one or two lithium-ion batteries.



More powerful converters based on the XL6019 also have a minimum input voltage of 5 V and allow a current of 5 A through the built-in switch, roughly twice as much as the previous models.
If you need to power an even heavier load, such as a laptop from a car battery, the QSKJ QS-1224CBD converter is a good fit, with a current of 10 A and power of up to 150 W.
First board and second; for the third option, I'd recommend a slightly different but also useful model. I also have a review of it.


It's often necessary to have not only relatively high output power, but also a current-limiting function. This greatly expands the range of applications, allowing you to charge e-bike batteries and power high-power LED floodlights. And with a step-up converter, you can use literally whatever you have on hand, such as inexpensive 12 V power supplies or a car battery.
But keep in mind that these converters do not have short-circuit protection, and they limit the current only until the load voltage drops below the source voltage.

The first converter is rated for up to 400 W, with a maximum current of 12 A
The QSKJ QS-2448CCBD is more compact, but rated for up to 100 W (190 W with additional cooling). Its components are mounted on an aluminum substrate that can be attached to a heatsink for better cooling.
The BMM9201 step-up converter also has current limiting, plus a display that can show either current or voltage, for both the input and output. A dedicated jumper selects what is displayed.



If that still isn't enough, you can use the QSKJ QS-4884CCCV converter. It also has an output current limit and comes in two versions, 1200 and 1800 W. The price difference between them is minimal, and the key differences in the 1800 W model are a more powerful inductor and three fuses instead of two in the lower-powered model.
Both models have a large heatsink and active cooling.

The maximum input current is 20 A for the first model and around 25–30 A for the second, so when powered from a 12 V source, you'll get only 240 or 360 W.
Also, because the input current of a step-up converter is higher than its output current in proportion to the conversion ratio, make sure your source can supply that much current. This applies to all step-up converters. For example, if a converter's maximum input current is 10 A and you want 36 V at 5 A on the output, the source voltage must be at least (36×5)/10 = 18 V, not counting efficiency. Since efficiency is usually around 90%, you'll need at least 20 V, and preferably 24 V.



Universal converters.
A special series of converters whose key feature is the ability to step voltage both up and down. These converters are not used as often as step-up or step-down converters, but sometimes there's simply no alternative. One example is powering 12 V devices in a car, where the voltage can vary from 10 to 15 V depending on the situation.

There are three main types.

Step-Up Step-Down.
Various designs are sold under this name, but the proper type has two independent converters on the board. The first steps the input voltage up to a fixed level, then the second steps it down to the required voltage.


These converters are complex and inefficient, and their "two-in-one" design also means they aren't cheap.
But they do have one advantage: low output ripple.
Because of these characteristics, they're uncommon. Examples include a small board with rather poor specs, and the quite capable adjustable DPS5005, which offers good specs and fairly high efficiency.


SEPIC
A fairly old topology, but an interesting one: it requires only one PWM controller, one power transistor, and a diode as active components. Its distinguishing feature is two identical inductors, although versions with a single coupled inductor are also available.
Advantages include a simple circuit, a relatively low price, and higher efficiency than a step-up/step-down converter, but also higher ripple.
Like the previous type, it may allow adjustment of both output voltage and current, and may also have a complete output shutdown function.


There is a wide selection of converters of this type, so finding the right one is no problem.
A SEPIC based on the very well-known XL6019, with an input range of 5–32 V, an output range of 1.25–35 V, and a load current of up to 1.5 A. It is simple and inexpensive, and has an additional filter to reduce output ripple.
A more advanced DC-DC converter, the ZK-SJVA-4X, offers not only voltage and current adjustment but also a display. Its input voltage range is 5.5–30 V, and its output range is 0.5–30 V at up to 4 A.
The third converter has no output current adjustment, but it does have overheat protection, a power rating of up to 80 W, and a voltage display, which can also come in handy.


Universal converter.
This converter has a very unusual topology, with high efficiency, more reliable operation, and the ability to adjust not only the voltage and current but also the minimum input voltage. It has just two drawbacks, I think: the price and the limited choice of models, since they are mostly built around the LTC3780 controller made by Linear.

This converter is a hybrid: it has one PWM controller and one inductor, but two power stages with synchronous rectification that operate depending on the ratio between the input and output voltages.


There aren't many models to choose from, and the differences between them are minimal. There is also a dual version with two modules on one board, but it's extremely rare.
The LTC3780-based converter operates from 5–30 V, providing an output voltage of 0.5–30 V at up to 8–10 A and 80–130 W.
This converter is great for charging batteries, building uninterruptible power supplies with a regulated output, and powering demanding loads in general.



Converters with additional features.
In some cases, converters offer extra functionality or features that set them apart from the rest, so it's worth putting them in a separate group.

Converters with USB outputs for charging or powering tablets, smartphones, and any other devices powered via USB.
Some are very simple, with their only distinguishing features being a low price and the ability to get 5 V from a single Li-Ion battery.
There are multi-channel step-down converters, such as the QSKJ QS-1205CBUM, but its standout feature isn't the number of channels. It has a fairly modern PWM controller with synchronous rectification and external power transistors, allowing it to deliver up to 8 A of output current with high efficiency. It also has reverse-polarity protection and a "cheat" circuit on each port so different smartphone models can identify it correctly.
The MH-KC24 converter is very compact and looks like the first one, but it has its own "trick": it supports Quick Charge devices. This is also a step-down converter, with a maximum output voltage of 12 V.


YZXStudio converters deserve a separate mention among USB charging devices. In addition to proper circuit design, quality components, and reliable operation, they support a wide range of fast-charging protocols.
ZC822 is the entry-level model, supporting QC/PD and output power up to 27 W.
The ZC823 supports not only QC/PD but can also deliver 60 W at an output voltage of 20 V.
ZC826P is a very rare converter. Besides supporting fast charging, it is bidirectional: if its input is connected to a battery and a power supply is connected to the USB Type-C output instead of a load, the converter will work in reverse and charge the battery. In effect, with this converter and a battery, you can build your own power bank with a high-power output and support for a wide range of protocols. The converter can deliver 5–20 V when powered from 12 V, so it is a universal bidirectional converter.

Unfortunately, they are no longer available on AliExpress. There's a similar one, rated for 120 W rather than 60 W: link
Reviews of these converters: one, two, three.
YZXStudio also offers crossover boards for its devices. Install the modules shown on one of these boards and you can build a multi-channel charger "to suit your taste". That is exactly why all the modules have the same dimensions and connector layout.



Small electric vehicles have become increasingly common in recent years: hoverboards, electric scooters, e-bikes, and scooters. This creates a need to get a lower voltage from their batteries.
There are plenty of step-down converters on the market, but their low reliability and lack of galvanic isolation can have serious consequences for the devices connected to them. A converter can simply fail short-circuit, leaving the full battery voltage across the load.
For applications like these, I can recommend genuine modules made by Murata. These modules were originally used in telecommunications equipment, but you can now find them for sale on their own, and at a low price. Their key advantages are high build quality and galvanic isolation. The downside is a fixed output voltage, although you can adjust it slightly if you want.
One of the most interesting models is the muRata HPH-12/30-D48NHL2-Y, which takes an input of 36–75 V and provides a 12 V output at up to 30 A, or 360 W.
A review of these converters: link



Converters designed for harsh operating conditions are also available, for example, for cars and boats. These converters are usually sealed, with a heatsink-style enclosure for high output power and additional protection circuits.

For example, RCNUN makes a wide range of converters like these. Just listing all the options would take up half the article, so I recommend checking out their store. They offer step-down, step-up, universal, adjustable, and fixed-voltage models, with bare wires, terminal blocks, or USB connectors.

Here are a few examples:
RC120503 — 6–20 V input, 5 V output at 3 A
RC8-40S1210 — 8–40 V input, 12 V output at 10 A
RC12240540 — 8–36 V input, 5 V output at 40 A


As you can see, there is a huge choice of converter topologies, models, and form factors, and this is only a tiny fraction of what is currently available.
The main challenge now is choosing the right one for a particular application. I hope this article will help with that.
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Comments16

Comments are published in their original language.

  1. 12 November 2022 16:34#1
    Добрый вечер, Андрей.

    Вопрос про блог.
    Если вспомнить про mysku, можно ли ожидать, что любая ваша статья или обзор оттуда есть в этом блоге?
    Я к тому, что хочется иметь одно место с вашими статьями, не рыскать по разным сайтам. Или, все-таки, на mysku  может быть что-то, что не попадает в блог?

    Best regards,
    --Igor
    0
    1. 12 November 2022 23:11#2
      Приветствую.
      Скорее наоборот, здесь есть то, чего нет на муське.
      +4
      1. 13 November 2022 14:25#3
        Отлично!
        Спасибо.

        +1
  2. 12 November 2022 21:29#4
    тут есть все
    0
  3. 18 December 2022 16:54#5
    Преобразователи на MP2225 довольно дорогие, особенно если надо взять несколько штук - сразу взлетает стоимость доставки.
    Гораздо интереснее платы  на основе JW5068A - там и входное напряжение до 23 В, а не до 16, как у МР2225, и выходной ток до 8 Ампер, да и цена ниже. Пульсации на выходе ниже плинтуса. Мало того, они еще и на 12 В бывают, в отличие от все тех же МР2225. Даже странно, kirich, что вы до сих пор не сделали обзора на эти замечательные преобразователи. 
    +1
    1. 27 December 2022 03:35#6
      Да, я видел эти модули, но в данный момент нет в них необходимости, может как нибудь закажу для обзора, пока есть другие задачи.
      +1
  4. 9 January 2023 21:22#7
    Kirich, a вам, часом, не доводилось снимать схемы ЗУ для лития с отсечкой (отключением акб с помощью реле или транзистора) по току? Интересует как оно "по классике" реализовано. Пару раз приходили в ремонт такие ЗУ от электровелосипедов, то там весь узел стабилизации тока/напряжения, двухцветной индикации и отсечки собран на одной lm324, 431, реле и горстке мелкой рассыпухи. Гугл зараза упорно не даёт результатов, всюду отсечка по напряжению для свинцовокислотников.
    Нужно собрать модуль отсечки, идеи есть, но не привык выдумывать велосипед. Хоть бери да обращайся к тем клиентам, которым ремонтировал, чтобы дали ЗУ на вечерок для реверс-инжиниринга :)
    +2
    1. 8 February 2023 02:21#8
      У меня есть обзор зарядного Modiary, там стоит отдельное реле и узел контроля, который и отключает батарею после завершения заряда, и это именно правильная реализация.
      0
  5. 22 April 2023 22:21#9
    Странно, что обошли вниманием понижающий преобразователь, который заслуживает внимания сигналом Enable и набором фиксированных значений из наиболее употребимых. Ну и стандартным шагом выводов в 0,1". И, кстати, вполне совместим по выводам с "КРЕНкой" (вывод En можно не распаивать)
    DC-DC converters: differences and how to choose the right one
    Постоянно их беру, но постепенно исчезают из продажи, хотя полноценной замены им нет.
    Понятно, что Mini 360 дешевле, но какой же он корявый и неудобный.


    +1
    1. 26 April 2023 11:28#10
      Да, видимо пропустил, за всем не уследишь :)
      Конечно удобно когда есть возможность выбрать фиксированное напряжение, как по мне, это как минимум надежнее подстроечного резистора.
      +2
  6. 28 September 2023 03:27#11
    кстати, есть ещё вариант повышайки, совмещённого с контроллером заряда, что позволяет одной платой и одним (или сколько хотим) литиевым элементом сделать "батарейку", которую можно заряжать от USB и выдавать любое напряжение от 4 до 28 вольт. Например, такой , или такой , часто рекламируются как заменитель "кроны" в мультиметрах...
    0
    1. 18 October 2023 18:59#12
      Да, неплохой преобразователь, где-то дома такой лежит, покупал для экспериментов пару штук. Удобно что совмещен с зарядом, защитой и повышайкой.
      0
    2. 6 January 2025 22:58#13
      schigi ,  почему-то Касперский блокирует ваши ссылки, а хотел посмотреть
      0
  7. 24 December 2023 16:34#14
    Купивши плату хл4015 запорол транзистор и порывшись в инете прочел, что старший брат 4016 подходит 1в1 а имея на подложке дырку я его еще прикрутил к радиатору и эта мелочь долговременно дает 6.5а при 14в, правда дроссель градусов 60-70(
    0
  8. 17 March 2024 14:13#15
    Здравствуйте, посоветуйте пожалуйста DC-DC преобразователь с входным напряжением 20V, выходным 12V, выходным током порядка 15A и пульсациями по выходу порядка 100mV p2p (стандарт ATX). Спасибо!
    0
  9. 6 January 2025 22:54#16
    kirich, а пригоден-ли для зарядки Li-Ion батарей повышающий преобразователь  400 Вт, 15 А  ?
    А еще важные вопросы: как установить ток заряда ?  Возможно по  ЭН ? Есть-ли возможность ввести индикацию заряда и окончания заряда ?
    0

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