The XL4016 from XLSEMI is a popular step-down converter capable of outputting significant currents of up to 8A.
The chip is sold separately and also embedded in a complete breakout, board ready-to-go, for EUR 6-10:
Boards can differ considerably: not all boards support all XL4016 features.
Some boards come with just one potentiometer to setup a constant voltage only (i.e. in above image). This is sufficient if you i.e. plan to use the converter to supply a constant voltage to a microprocessor from a 8-36V input range.
At practically same cost, different boards provide two potentiometers, so in addition to a constant voltage, you can also set a maximum constant current. This can be an important requirement, i.e. when you plan to use it for battery charging or to drive LEDs.
If you plan to stock your electronic lab, I recommend you choose boards with two potentiometers for maximum flexibility.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Input Voltage | 5-40V |
| Output Voltage | 1.2-36V |
| Max Output Current | 8A |
| Efficiency | up to 96% |
| Switching Frequency | 180kHz |
The maximum output current of 8A requires to add a heat sink to the chip. While the XL4016 is dependable and rugged, avoid exploting its maximum specs. Boards using XL4016 run well for long-time output currents of 5A.
Stable output current also depends on the voltage difference between input and output. The lower the difference, the less work needs to be done, and the more stable output current and less heat is produced.
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Constant Current | yes |
| Output Shortcut Protection | yes |
| Over Voltage Protection | yes |
| Thermal Protection | yes |
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(content created Feb 27, 2024)