# 28. DC-DC Boost Converter¶

## 28.1. Objective¶

Here we will explore an inductor based circuit which can produce an output voltage which is higher than the supplied voltage. This class of circuits are referred to as DC to DC converters or boost regulators. In this experiment the voltage from a 1.5 V supply ( battery ) will be boosted to a voltage high enough ( ~ 5 V) to drive two LEDs in series. Note that forward voltage of LED is typically 1.8V although for some diodes it can go up to 3.3V (blue LED)

## 28.2. Notes¶

In this tutorials we use the terminology taken from the user manual when referring to the connections to the Red Pitaya STEMlab board hardware. Oscilloscope & Signal generator application is used for generating and observing signals on the circuit. Extension connector pins used for +5V, -3.3V and +3.3V voltage supply are show in the documentation here.

## 28.3. Background Basics¶

Temporarily connect one of your LEDs from the 1.5 V battery. Be careful to note the polarity of the diode so it will be forward biased. Does it light up? Probably not since 1.5 V is generally not enough to turn on an LED. We need a way to boost the 1.5 V to a higher voltage to light a single LED let alone two LEDs connected in series.

A boost converter (step-up converter) is a DC-to-DC power converter that steps up voltage (while stepping down current) from its input (supply) to its output (load). It is a class of switched-mode power supply (SMPS) containing at least two semiconductors (a diode and a transistor) and at least one energy storage element: a capacitor, inductor, or the two in combination. To reduce voltage ripple, filters made of capacitors (sometimes in combination with inductors) are normally added to such a converter’s output (load-side filter) and input (supply-side filter).

Note

Theory of operation of DC - DC boost converter is nicely explained in this Wikipedia article. Before going into experiment short overview of the theory is recommended.

Classical DC - DC boost converter circuit is shown on figure 1. Depending on the desired operating (switching) frequency and maximum current rating the inductor $$L_1$$ should be selected. In this experiment for $$L_1$$ an $$100 \mu H$$ power inductor with 1A current rating is used. Operating (switching) frequency should be in range of $$10 - 50 kHz$$. For the rectifier $$D_1$$ and the snubber $$D_2$$ diodes classical 1N4001 or a 1N3064 can be used. For the $$M_1$$ transistor we will use IRLU120N. We selected this power MOSFET transistor since it has low threshold voltage $$V_{TH}$$. If you use high threshold voltage FET transistors and low voltage driving signal (gate signal) the switching of the MOSFET could be non-optimal. Selected MOSFET already has snubber diode integrated so external diode $$D_2$$ is not necessary.

Note

Simple DC-DC boost converter calculator is also available on Adafruit web page.

For storage capacitor $$C_1$$ and electrolytic high capacitance capacitor should be selected. The selection of this capacitor depends on current ratings, switching frequency and inductor value. But to be on the safe side values above $$10 \mu F$$ would be sufficient. An DC-DC boost converter used in this experiment is shown in figure 1.

Figure 1: DC to DC boost converter

On figure 1 basic DC-DC boost converter circuit is shown. To the converter circuit a 200 $$\Omega$$ load is added. For stable operation of DC-DC boost converter either constant load or load regulation is needed. Without regulation any change of the load will affect the output voltage level. Therefore we have set 200 $$\Omega$$ load to stabilize output voltage. Parallel to the load two LED diodes in series with 1K resistors are added. Note that adding or removing additional LEDs parallel to the load will not affect output voltage since current drawn by LED will be much smaller than current drawn by 200 $$\Omega$$ load. LEDs are used as indicators that our DC battery voltage is BOOSTED UP form 1.5 V to ~5V. If the LEDs are off that means our battery voltage is bellow LED forward voltage (2x1.8V) and therefore indicating that DC-DC boost converter circuit is not working correctly.

Red Pitaya STEMlab outputs can generate voltage signals with maximal output range of +/- 1V (2Vpp). For MOSFET switching the higher signal amplitudes are required.Because of that we have used two NPN transistors in switching mode as intermediate stage between OUT1 switching signal and MOSFET transistor. OUT1 square signal will switch ON and OFF first NPN transistor causing its collector voltage to swing between 0-5V. This collector voltage then controls second NPN transistor and its collector voltage, also swinging between 0-5V, will then switch ON/OFF the MOSFET transistor. The reason why two NPN transistors are used is to have OUT1 and MOSFET gate signal in phase. I.e when OUT1 is high the signal on the MOSFET gate should be also high. Using one transistor will cause 180 phase delay. You can also see the other more important problem here. If we use only one NPN transistor then when OUT1 is constantly turned OFF the MOSFET transistor will be constantly turned ON producing short circuit: battery - inductor - mosfet - gnd. Using two NPN transistor will prevent this happening.

Warning

Note that +5V voltage rail from the STEMlab is used only for transistor switching and not for the load supply. I.e electrical energy is flowing from battery to the LOAD and LEDs.

## 28.4. Materials¶

• Red Pitaya STEMlab
• 1x 1kΩ Resistor
• 3x 470Ω Resistor
• 1x 10kΩ Resistor
• 1x $$100 \mu H$$ Power inductor
• 1x $$47 \mu F$$ Capacitor
• 2x LED (red)
• 1x 1W 200Ω Resistor
• 1x Signal diode (1N4001)
• 2x Small signal NPN transistor (2N3904)
• 1x Power MOS transistor (IRLU120N)
• 1x AA 1.5V battery

## 28.5. Procedure¶

1. Following instructions above and schematics from figure 1 build the circuit on the breadboard.

Figure 2: DC - DC boost converter on the breadboard

1. Set IN1 and IN2 scope probes attenuations to x10
2. Connect IN1 scope probe to the point 3 (figure 1) and IN2 scope probe to the point (5)
3. Start the Oscilloscope & Signal generator application - OUT1 must be disabled (turned off)
4. In the IN1 and IN2 menu settings set probe attenuation to x10
5. In the MEASUREMENTS menu select MEAN measurements for IN1 and IN2
6. What are the values of the DC voltage on point 3 and 5 (figure 1)?

At this point, when OUT1 switching signal is disabled the DC-DC boost converter is not functional. Transistor $$M_1$$ is turned off (open circuit) and battery voltage is, across inductor $$L_1$$ and diode $$D_1$$ , transfered to the load side (point 5, figure 1). For DC signals (no switching) the $$L_1$$ inductor behaves as a short circuit therefore output voltage is the battery voltage decreased by $$D_1$$ diode forward voltage: $$V_{out} = V_{battery} - V_{diode}$$. This state is shown in the measurements on figure 3. As we expected the $$LED_1$$ and $$LED_2$$ are turned off since output voltage is below LEDs forward voltage (2x1.8V).

Figure 3: DC - DC boost converter is turned off

1. In the OUT1 menu settings set frequency to 10kHz, waveform to PWM, amplitude to 0.5V, DC offset to 0.5V, deselect SHOW and select ON.
2. In the MEASUREMENTS menu select P2P measurements for IN1 and IN2
3. Set t/div value to 100us/div (You can set t/div using horizontal +/- controls)

At this point when OUT1 switching signal is enabled the DC-DC boost converter is functional and behaves as described in theory above. Output voltage is boosted up to approximately 5V and LEDs are turned ON. This state is shown on figure 4. As we can see from the measurements some ripple appears at battery and output voltage.Output voltage ripple is caused by battery voltage ripple and transistor $$M_1$$ switching. Battery voltage ripple is due to fact that battery is not ideal voltage source and when $$M_1$$ is turned on, current drown from battery is causing voltage drop.

Figure 4: DC - DC boost converter is turned on

Note

Ripple voltage values are one of the main parameters of the DC-DC converter quality. Lower output ripple corresponds to better DC-DC boost converter. Capacitor $$C_1$$ is therefore needed in order to compensate and smooth out switching voltage appearing on inductor $$L_1$$ and diode $$D_1$$. Try to remove $$C_1$$ and observe $$V_{out}$$.

1. In order to observe switching voltages of the $$M_1$$, set IN1 probe to the point 2 ( figure 1) and IN2 probe to the point 4 ( figure 1)
2. In the IN2 settings menu set vertical offset -4.0V (to better see IN2 signal)
3. In the TRIGGER menu select NORMAL and set trigger level to 3.0V
4. Set t/div value to 20us/div (You can set t/div using horizontal +/- controls)

Figure 5: M1 switching voltages

On the figure 5 $$M_1$$ gate and drain signals are shown. From figure 5 we can see that gate signal is an switching square wave controlling the transistor. Drain signal corresponds to the “open/closed” states of the transistor $$M_1$$ but during the “off” state a significant oscillations are visible. This is the affect of the inductor $$L_1$$ since it will appose any change in the current trough it which will affect the $$M_1$$ drain voltage.

Note

DC-DC boos converter output voltage value is often controlled with $$duty-cycle$$ of the switching signal.

1. In order to observe affects of the switching signal (OUT1) duty cycle set IN1 probe to the point 2 ( figure 1) and IN2 probe to the point 5 ( figure 1)
2. In the IN1 and IN2 menu settings set vertical offset to -3.0V
3. Set t/div value to 50us/div (You can set t/div using horizontal +/- controls)
4. In the OUT1 menu settings change duty cycle from $$30-80 \%$$ and observe results.

Figure 5: Above: Output voltage at 40% duty cycle. Below: Output voltage at 80% duty cycle

Warning

From figure 5 we can observe the affect of the duty cycle on the output voltage. If we go with the duty cycle to 0% or 100% then we will turn off or short circuit $$M_1$$ transistor therefore duty cycle should be limited above for short circuit preventing and circuit damaging.

## 28.6. Questions¶

1. Change load value to $$470 \Omega$$ and observe results.
2. Change OUT1 frequency to from 5 - 20 kHz. Measure and record the boosted output voltage waveform and the current waveforms. Explain what has changed and why?
3. How would adding LC filter on the converter output affect the voltage ripple?