LM2596 DC-DC Converter Module Testing

by Kerry D. Wong:

LM2596 based step-down DC-DC converter modules can be bought on eBay quite cheaply for around a dollar each. But how do they perform? Is it safe to use it to power your design? Let’s find out.

According to TI’s website, these LM2596 step-down (buck) regulators are sold for $1.8 each for a quantity of a thousand. So how a finished converter could be sold for just above a dollar each is quite a mystery to me. Anyway, the picture below is the board I received. It appears that there are a few variations to this design (slightly different inductor size or capacitor size/voltage rating, etc.) but they all are largely based on the reference design.

LM2596 DC-DC Converter Module Testing – [Link]

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