Cheap MP1584 Buck Converter board from eBay - anyone tried these?

rackmonkey · Jun 8, 2020

Ran across this recently and am curious if anyone has used one of the many ebay prebuilt boards built around the MP1584 buck converter. Seems like a convenient bolt-in solution for powering indicator lamps/LEDs/vactrols etc from 24V rails, or from the +15V rail of a bipolar supply. I’ve always used either voltage dividers or a protoboard circuit w/LM2596 depending on application.

5 boards for ~$6 ain’t bad.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/5pcs-MP1584-3A-Adjustable-DC-Step-Down-Converter-Buck-Module-3-3V-5V-9V-12V-24V/132416728307?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

MP1584 datasheet:

https://www.monolithicpower.com/en/mp1584.html

quiescent current and ripple look good enough for any application you might want to throw at it. Switching frequency is >1MHz, which is high enough to easily filter out or even ignore in some cases.

dogears · Jun 11, 2020

Found some for sale on Mouser under the brand Seeed Studio, mfr. # 106990005. $4.50. Or a similar from DFRobot, Mfr. #:
DFR0570 for $3.13.

rackmonkey · Jun 11, 2020

Thanks, dogears. Were those prices for 5 boards, or singles?

dogears · Jun 11, 2020

Just singles. But the board is clearly the same one.

Also noticed mouser says that chip is NRND.

trobbins · Jun 14, 2020

The switching frequency is resistor preset to about 900khz.

The inductor and output cap appear to be set up ideally for a low output voltage (<5V), whereas operation at 5-12V may show some non-ideal behaviour unless the inductor size is increased.

rackmonkey · Jun 15, 2020

trobbins said:
The switching frequency is resistor preset to about 900khz.

The inductor and output cap appear to be set up ideally for a low output voltage (<5V), whereas operation at 5-12V may show some non-ideal behaviour unless the inductor size is increased.

Good catch. Thanks. Predictable I guess. i ordered a batch to play with and will post some test results pre and post any changes I make.

cheers