The LM2596 from Texas Instruments is a monolithic buck converter accepting up to 40V input and converting it to a lower voltage at a maximum current of 3A.
The chip exists in fixed-output voltages as well as in variable output voltage. It uses an internal 150 kHz switching frequency.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Input Voltage | 4.5-40V |
| Output Voltage | 1.2-37V |
| Max Output Current | 3A |
| Efficiency | up to 96% |
| Switching Frequency | 150kHz |
| Standby Current | 80uA |
The controller supports shutting down the regulator circuit using logic level, dropping standby current to 80uA. To turn the regulator on, the ON/OFF pin needs to be pulled below 1.3V (or connected to GND).
This feature can be used in soft start scenarios when the input power source is limited in the current it can deliver, preventing high initial current spikes. Buck converters require less input current at higher voltages: turning the regulator on only when the full voltage is present reduces input current requirements.
It can also be used for under-voltage protection scenarios where the output should be active only when a minimum voltage threshold is exceeded to protect sensitive consumers.
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Constant Current | yes |
| Over Current Protection | yes, two-stage reduction in switching frequency |
| Thermal Protection | yes |
Comments
Please do leave comments below. I am using utteran.ce, an open-source and ad-free light-weight commenting system.
Here is how your comments are stored
Whenever you leave a comment, a new github issue is created on your behalf.
-
All comments become trackable issues in the Github Issues section, and I (and you) can follow up on them.
-
There is no third-party provider, no disrupting ads, and everything remains transparent inside github.
Github Users Yes, Spammers No
To keep spammers out and comments attributable, all you do is log in using your (free) github account and grant utteranc.es the permission to submit issues on your behalf.
If you don’t have a github account yet, go get yourself one - it’s free and simple.
If for any reason you do not feel comfortable with letting the commenting system submit issues for you, then visit Github Issues directly, i.e. by clicking the red button Submit Issue at the bottom of each page, and submit your issue manually. You control everything.
Discussions
For chit-chat and quick questions, feel free to visit and participate in Discussions. They work much like classic forums or bulletin boards. Just keep in mind: your valued input isn’t equally well trackable there.
(content created Apr 11, 2024)