This article aims to demonstrate a basic and compact DC-to-DC boost converter circuit with a 555 Timer IC. A boost converter is a DC-to-DC power converter that takes a specific amount of input voltage and uses it to raise the voltage to a fixed level. This type of exchanged mode power supply has one energy storage component, such as a capacitor, an inductor, or both in the same combination and two semiconductors, such as a diode and a transistor, at any rate. Filters are typically added to the input terminal and output of such a converter to reduce voltage ripple.
Project
Circuit Schematic
Components
- NE555 Timer IC
- LM317 Regulator IC
- BD139 NPN Transistor
- 10 KΩ Potentiometer (x2)
- 100uH/2A Inductor
- 1N5819 Zener Diode
- 39V/1W Zener Diode
- 1N4007 PN Diode
- Ceramic Capacitor (10nF, 560pF)
- Electrolytic Capacitor (1uF/25v, 10uF/35V, 100uF/35V)
- Resistor (1KΩ, 220Ω)
- Wires
- Breadboard
- DC Power Supply
Circuit Connection
A 555-timer IC is first taken. Pin 1 is then directly linked to the ground, and pins 4 and 8 are connected directly to the VCC. Additionally, Pin 5 is connected to the ground via a 10nF capacitor.
Pins 2 and 6 are linked to one another. Pin 2 is additionally linked to the ground via a ceramic capacitor with a 560 pF value.
A 10KΩ potentiometer is connected to pins 6 and 8, and pin 7 of the IC is linked to its middle terminal.
Pin 3, the output of the integrated circuit, is connected via a 1KΩ resistor to the base of the NPN transistor BD139. Its collector terminal is connected to Vcc via a 100uH inductor, while its emitter terminal is connected straight to the ground.
Between the BD139 collector terminal and the inductor’s input terminal on the LM317 regulator integrated circuit, a forward-biased 1N5819 Zener is attached.
The adjustment terminal of the LM317 regulator is connected to one side of a 10KΩ potentiometer, which is grounded. The ground is linked to the middle terminal.
Lastly, a 100uF/35V capacitor in parallel and a 220Ω resistor in series is connected to the LM317 regulator’s output wire.
Working Principle of DC to DC Boost Converter
The DC-to-DC flexible advanced step-up power converter circuit is shown in this boost converter project. The circuit’s output current, which ranges from 100 mA to 300 mA depending on the input power voltage, can be balanced between 1.2 V and 37 V DC. For example, at 6 V, the maximum output current is approximately 100 mA, at 9 V, it is approximately 150 mA to 200 mA, and at 12 V, it is approximately 250 mA to 300 mA. The transistor BD139 will radiate heat when operating at 12V, hence a suitable heatsink was needed. With the 5 KΩ variable resistor, the circuit’s output voltage can be adjusted.
The boost converter circuit is divided into two independent portions. The first part is a step-up converter circuit that converts DC to DC and is based on a 555-timer integrated circuit, allowing an input voltage of up to 50V. A regulator and the LM317 adjustable voltage controller integrated circuit (IC) form the second segment of the boost converter circuit. The voltage coming from the booster converter circuit is stepped down by the 39V Zener diode to bring it below the 40V DC maximum input voltage breaking point of the LM317 IC.