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How Can I Use a DC-DC Buck Converter in a Cigar Box Project?

Posted by Cigar Box Johnny on September 3, 2016 at 10:02am in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

Recently I ordered some 3 watt class-d amps via Amazon, and they sent me a dc-dc converter (8-50v input /5v 3a. Max USB-2AM) by mistake. I tried to return it, but they opted to let me keep the part(cost more to ship than part cost). Now I have this free converter, I would like to know how I can utilize the converter, preferably in a cigar box application. Thanks

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Tags: Converter, DC-DC, buck, step
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Replies

  • Timothy Hunter September 3, 2016 at 11:43pm

    best idea i can come up with is to put a cigarette lighter adapter on the Vin and hack a usb extension cable and turn it into a ph charger for your car. as a bonus you could also use it to power those  5V amplifiers from the car.

    either that or use it to make a battery powered busker amp.use a 12V gel cel battery and the converter to power one of the 5V amp modules. amp will last considerably longer than powered from a 9V battery.

    • Cigar Box Johnny > Timothy Hunter September 4, 2016 at 10:42am

      Thanks Timothy. I'll check out the 12V gel cell battery.

  • Blues Frog September 3, 2016 at 10:02pm

    The question is, what do you have that you need 5VDC for?

    • Cigar Box Johnny > Blues Frog September 3, 2016 at 10:15pm

      I have three Oliva Nub (Cameroon, Connecticut, Habana) cigar boxes and three Drew Estates Acid (2 Acid Blondies and 1 Kuba Kuba) cigar boxes. Four of the six will be equipped with PAM8403 3x3w 5v amps powered by a four AA battery pack. I think the converter is only a step down buck converter, so it can lower the input, but it cannot increase the input. I have two slightly larger amps, PAM8610, HiLetgo PAM8610 Mini Stereo AMP Audio Amplify Board 2*10W Dual Chan..., and a TDA7297 DROK® Micro Stereo Amplifier Amplify Board 6V to 18V Power Supply D..., that I would like to run off of either AA/9V batteries, or a cell phone power bank (2000 mah). It seems that folks want at least 2.1 4.0 Blue Tooth and battery operated.

      • John Sawyer > Cigar Box Johnny September 3, 2016 at 11:37pm

        Basically, you could now power your 5V devices (amp or whatever) from a higher voltage source, like a 12V lead acid battery...  

  • John Sawyer September 3, 2016 at 8:06pm

    A buck converter will convert a range of DC voltages to another range.  So if you have a 12V battery, but your AMP needs 9V, or 24V, the converter will do that for you...  Depending on the converter.

    Do you have the converter specs or model number?   Sounds to me that you have a solution looking for a problem...

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