DC-DC CONVERTERS (DC Choppers)

1. Regulated DC power supplies are needed for most analog and digital electronics systems.
2. Switching devices can be used to process energy from the input to the output.
3. A chopper can be considered as DC equivalent to an AC transformer with a continuously variable turns ratio. Like a transformer, it can be used to step-down or Step-up a DC voltage source
4. Other applications include, Motor control in automobiles, Trolley cars, Marine hoists, Forklift trucks, etc.
5. Switch-mode dc-to-dc converters are used to convert unregulated dc input into a controlled dc output at a desired voltage level.
6. dc-dc converter system:
   
   

Switch-mode Power Supply

 

Applications: regulated switch-mode dc power supplies (often used with a HF electrical isolation transformer) and dc motor drives (often without an isolation transformer) for speed change (direction change also can be done)

Basic topologies of DC-DC Converters:

1. Buck regulators: step-down only.
2. Boost regulators: Step-up only.
3. Buck-Boost regulators: both
4. Cuk regulators: both
5. Full-bridge regulators

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