Switching voltage regulators - minimal supported comonents

During inefficiency of linear voltage regulators, switching regulators are in no doubt fairly better choice, at least to step down higher voltage and used as an input voltage to standard linear regulators (avoiding ripple issue with MCU usage).

I have tried old, widely used MC34063 and it is fine except it require too many additional components, as well as very low resistor values not commonly available, which extends complexity of the circuit adding many commonly available in parallel...

As there is many of switching regulators around, I'm interested in experience of other members with other switching regulators, require non (labeled for standard values as 3.3 or 5V, if exists) or just few necessary components allowing input up to 20V and produce output for low power circuits around MCUs, which not exceed 250mA.

Thanks.

Hi,

Check out the line of "Simple Switchers" originally made by National Semiconductor now owned by TI.

The LM2825 is about as simple as you can get: https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm2825.pdf

John

Instead of using a chip and building your own, how about these tiny ready built (dirt cheap) modules?

https://www.banggood.com/10Pcs-Mini...e-Power-Supply-Step-Down-Module-p-951163.html

I've been using them for a while now, and find them excellent.

jpanhalt said:

The LM2825 is about as simple as you can get: https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm2825.pdf

John

Click to expand...

Hi,

And just about as expensive as you can get too