Every high-performance appliance requires a stable and regulated supply of power. Conventional battery technology cannot guarantee this stability. You need an intermediate voltage regulator to give the required supply while maintaining noise isolation between several blocks that share the same supply. By regulating the power supply, the battery life is enhanced and this is very critical in portable applications. Power management technology seeks to generate proper voltage efficiently and with minimal power loss.
Here are some factors that you need to consider when choosing a dc/dc converter
Consider the load criteria
The converter is supposed to fully meet specifications and this is only possible with an output loading of at least 10%. When the converter operates at no load or light load conditions, there are issues. A perfect solution here would be to add dummy load. Therefore when looking for a dc/dc converter, you need to check the datasheet specifications and ensure that it has the right specs and rating.
Soft starting and output current limiting
Your dc/dc converted should have an internal limiting so that if there is an overload that exceeds 110%, the converter turns off and attempts to do a pulse-by-pulse restart. This is an important feature that protects both the converter and the load. However, there will occasionally be challenges when trying to power nonlinear loads. Within the rate of the converter, such a load will draw a minimal amount of current. In this case, it will require some large inrush current and in turn, the converter applies its output. In case of excessive inrush, the converter responds by going off and engages the pulse-by-pulse restart mode. When purchasing a dc/dc converter, you have to get one that has a soft start circuit between the load and the dc/dc converter.
Consider emissions and output noise
When buying a dc/dc converter, you have to keep in mind the fact that it can wreak havoc on the input power line. The nature of the High Voltage DC-DC Converters is that it draws power at high speed which might lead to lots of noise. The power is usually in high-speed square pulses and it experiences fast and fall times. Before you use your converter, it is important to take note of the manufacturer’s guidelines for input filtering to avoid future problems.
Dc/dc converter Shielding
When looking for a converter you will see a lot of them advertised with either five or six shielding. This gives a false sense of security to the users about the noise that is likely to be produced by your converter. The most important thing is to ensure that your converter doesn’t have input/output lines that conduct and can re-radiate noise that is supposed to be contained within the shield. The shields should be grounded to a suitable RF return or chassis. Always ensure the shield is connected to the right return.
When choosing a dc/dc converter, ensure you have the right specifications by a professional electrician. Consider a converter that will give you optimum output and with the right apparatus to contain the noise.
