how do you do DC-DC conversion?

dbri · Post by **dbri** » Thu May 08, 2003 2:03 pm

how do you convert 24VDC down to 12VDC?

ciz28 · Post by **ciz28** » Thu May 08, 2003 2:42 pm

dbri wrote:how do you convert 24VDC down to 12VDC?

afaik, transformers are the only way to step up/down voltage, but they only work with ac. so i suppose you could go dc > ac, step down ac, then ac > dc. but obviously, this is kinda silly. so all we're left with is to burn the extra voltage with a resistor, potentiometer, etc.

dbri · Post by **dbri** » Thu May 08, 2003 4:30 pm

why convert that energy to heat?
why not into motion or something?
someone mentioned that switched power supplies differ voltages by pulsing. can you do that to make 24->12? does it help that its already dc to begin with? thanks.

regularfries · Post by **regularfries** » Thu May 08, 2003 4:51 pm

If you want to do it yourself, you use a buck regulator (buck regulator decreases voltage, boost regulator increases voltage). I think Microchip make things like that. The chip does all the pulsing (pulse wave modulation (PWM)) for you. They're also called DC-DC converters.

http://www.microchip.com/

To be honest have never used one and don't know which model you'd need for this! These articles might be of interest. Bit-tech is a modding site.

http://www.bit-tech.net/article/51/
http://www.bit-tech.net/article/52/

Believe there are premade things like this but not something I know about.

Good luck

efcoins · Post by **efcoins** » Sat May 10, 2003 5:02 am

Depends upon the power and whether efficiency matters or not.

If this is just for a fan, then use zenner diodes to give a 12 vold drop
For an entire PC you will need something more complicated.

how do you do DC-DC conversion?

how do you do DC-DC conversion?

Re: how do you do DC-DC conversion?

hmmm