DC-DC converters are electronic devices used whenever
we want to change DC electrical power efficiently from
one voltage level to another. They’re needed because unlike
AC, DC can’t simply be stepped up or down using a
transformer. In many ways, a DC-DC converter is the DC
equivalent of a transformer.
Typical applications of DC-DC converters are where 24V
DC from a truck battery must be stepped down to 12V DC
to operate a car radio, CB transceiver or mobile phone;
where 12V DC from a car battery must be stepped down
to 3V DC, to run a personal CD player; where 5V DC on a
personal computer motherboard must be stepped down to
3V, 2V or less for one of the latest CPU chips; where the
340V DC obtained by rectifying 240V AC power must be
stepped down to 5V, 12V and other DC voltages as part of
a PC power supply; where 1.5V from a single cell must be
stepped up to 5V or more, to operate electronic circuitry;
where 6V or 9V DC must be stepped up to 500V DC or
more, to provide an insulation testing voltage; where 12V
DC must be stepped up to +/-40V or so, to run a car hifi
amplifier’s circuitry; or where 12V DC must be stepped up
to 650V DC or so, as part of a DC-AC sinewave inverter.
DC-DC converters
