This DC-DC Boost Converter device able to multiply an input voltage up to 10x at the output. It utilizes primarily an LM555 IC in tandem with an inductor and MOSFET. Its output voltage is adjustable via the potentiometer.
The 555 IC at the heart of the circuit outputting an adjustable signal.
The underside of the PCB showing the inductor and potentiometer.
The final product came out as a functional and professional soldered PCB. To get there, it took 2 breadboard designs, as is detailed below. The circuit is able to multiply an input DC voltage by up to ten times, the main example of which I take in 5V DC as the input and output 50V DC. The circuit utilizes a 555 IC and its output is adjustable via a potentiometer that tunes the frequency at which the 555 toggles (which ultimately changes the output voltage).
The original schematic that I developed this circuit off of is by Benjamin Marshall, who's circuit I used as reference and made modifications where needed in my design. The schematic of my boost converter is attached here.
Start to finish of how I developed the device.
As mentioned, I designed my schematic for this project based on an already developed schematic, linked in the section above. Prior to my knowledge of Altium Designer, I orginally recreated the online schematic in KiCad. I modified the static 0Ω-100kΩ used to modify the output voltage with a potentiometer, as well as converting the original MOSFET to a MOSFET I already had on hand. It came out as follows:
My circuit's first iteration schematic, in KiCad.
Equipped with the KiCad schematic, I constructed my design on a breadboard, and here's how it came out.
The 555 timer IC at the heart of the circuit.
The 4.7mH inductor used by the circuit.
A shot of the entire finished circuit.
I tested this design, and was able to achieve a voltage output of 50V from an input of 5V, so a voltage multiplication of ten times.
I then took my design from KiCad and recreated it in Altium Designer along with a PCB layout I made in Altium Designer.
My circuit designed in Altium Designer.
My circuit's PCB designed in Altium Designer.
My circuit's PCB rendered in 3D in Altium Designer.
After I finished my Altium Designer design, I submitted my PCB design files to JLPCB to have my boards manufactured and sent to me. I also ordered the necessary parts from DigiKey. The boards arrived a week later, and look very professional:
A set of five of my PCBs from JLPCB.
A close-up view of one of my PCBs.
Now that I had both the parts and my PCB in hand, I planned to go on to soldering the components onto the board.
Once both my boards from JLPCB and parts from Digikey arrived, I went through and soldered my components on. Unfortunately, I forgot to add the bottom solder mask and pcb layer when exporting my gerbers, so the bottom of the boards lacked via pads. Because of this, I soldered a few components onto the underside of the board. Here's how it came out:
A shot of the final board soldered up.
With the soldering done, I proceeded with testing. Ultimately, I found the device worked as intended. I was able to get 50V from a 5V input using a DC power supply to power the device, and found the potentiometer properly adjusted the output voltage as desired. I was overall very happy with how everything came out!
