Is there really anything wrong with the MC34063?

[BravoV]

If its not for fun or learning process, and just want to get a quick "relatively" low current step-up or step-down, there are tons of these so called mini step-up or mini step-down DC boards, and they're really dirt cheap.

They work quite well, just don't push it too far and suggest to derate at half of the rated current, and it is still much-much better than 34063, much-much smaller size and more efficient.

Random images from Google, these boards are pretty small and ready to use.

1584 based step-down wide input from 4.5 - 28 V, 3 A rated, just use at 1.5 A


MT3608 based step-up with input from 2 - 24 V , 2 A rated, just use at 1 A

[SingedFingers]

It's only driving about 25mA at average. There is a peak of 85mA when the alarm is sounding. I'm replacing the output driver with a logic level MOSFET as it's currently a tip41c.

Output caps are around 1 ohm (AVX TAJ).

Inductor cost 3x more than the IC did!

I'm actually starting to think I should just redesign the whole thing and use a PIC I've got lying around. Or get an esp8266 and get it to send me a text message when some pikey scum breaks in.

if price matter, just get something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162402905270

That's about as cheap as it gets. Will order some of them to play with. See if I can blow them up.

I was actually considering registering shitfromchina.com and reviewing stuff as a sideline

[SeanB]

I think Julian Illet already has that pretty much covered, along with Big Clive.

[SingedFingers]

Had no idea Julian Ilett existed. Sorted