Custom Buck Converter
Power Electronics
The Objective
For my Electronic Circuit Design course, I needed a custom power supply for a cooling fan. I designed and fabricated a custom step-down DC-DC buck converter PCB. I paired this with a 555 timer IC configured to generate a PWM signal, creating a fully integrated hardware fan controller with stable voltage regulation.
System Architecture Overview
The Architecture
[Detail the architecture here: How did you calculate and select the inductor and capacitor values for the desired switching frequency? Why a 555 timer instead of a dedicated PWM controller IC?]
Motor Speed/LED Controller Schematic
Motor Speed/LED Controller Circuit Soldered
Motor Speed Control
By calculating the exact inductor and capacitor values for the desired switching frequency, the converter achieved a stable output with minimal voltage ripple. [What were the final testing results? How did you verify the signal and measure the voltage ripple using oscilloscopes?]
Buck Converter PCB Layout
Buck Converter PCB