DC/DC Boost Converter

ATTENTION: This experiment is designed to limit the output voltage to be less than 50V DC. Only use duty ratios, frequencies, input voltage, or loads that are given here.

This experiment will utilize the DC-DC converter board provided by HiRel Systems. http://www.hirelsystems.com/shop/Power-Pole-Board.html

Information about the board operation can be found in this collections video “Introduction to the HiRel Board.”

The procedure shown here applies to any simple boost converter circuit that can be built on proto boards, bread boards, or printed circuit boards.

1. Board setup:

1. Connect the ±12 signal supply at the "DIN" connector but keep "S90" OFF.
2. Make sure that the PWM control selector is in the open-loop position.
3. Set the DC power supply at 10 V.
   1. Keep the output disconnected from the board for now.
4. Before connecting the load resistor, adjust it to 20 Ω.
5. Build the circuit shown in Fig. 2 by using the lower MOSFET, upper diode, and BB magnetic board.
   1. Note the inductance value shown on the board.
6. Connect "R_L"across "V1+" and "COM."
   1. Note that the input and output connections are flipped compared to those in the buck converter experiment.
   2. NEVER Disconnect the load during the experiment as the boost converter can become unstable and cause damage to the board.
   3. Make sure the switch array for MOSFET selection (lower MOSFET), PWM selection, and other settings are correct to achieve a functional circuit as in Fig. 2.

Figure 2. Boost converter circuit

2. Adjusting the Duty Ratio and Switching Frequency

1. Connect the differential probe across the gate-to-source of the lower MOSFET.
2. Turn ON "S90." A switching signal should appear on the scope screen.
   1. Adjust the signal time axis to see two or three periods.
   2. Adjust the frequency potentiometer to achieve a frequency of 100 kHz (period of 10 µs).
3. Adjust the duty ratio potentiometer to achieve a 10% duty ratio (on-time of 1 µs).

3. Boost Converter Testing for Variable Input

1. Connect the input DC power supply, which is already set at 10 V, to "V2+" and "COM."
2. Connect the differential probe to measure the inductor current at "CS5."
   1. Connect the other probe across the load. Make sure the ground connector is connected to "COM."
   2. Capture the waveforms and measure the output voltage mean, inductor current ripple, and inductor current mean.
   3. Record the input current and voltage readings on the DC power supply.
3. Adjust the input voltage to 8 V, 12 V and 14 V, and repeat the above steps for each of these voltages.
4. Disconnect the input DC supply and adjust its output to 10 V.

4. Boost Converter Testing for Variable Duty Ratio

1. Connect the differential probe across the gate to source of the lower MOSFET.
   1. Connect the other probe across the load. Make sure the ground connector is connected to "COM."
   2. Connect the input DC supply to "V2+" and "COM."
   3. Capture the waveforms and measure the output voltage mean and on-time of the gate-to-source voltage (also the duty ratio).
   4. Record the input current and voltage readings on the DC power supply.
2. Adjust the duty ratio to 20%, 40%, and 60%. Repeat the above steps for each of these three duty ratios.
3. Reset the duty ratio to 10%.
4. Disconnect the input DC supply.

5. Boost Converter Testing for Variable Switching Frequency

1. Connect the differential probe across the gate to source of the lower MOSFET.
2. Connect the other probe across the load with the ground connector connected to "COM."
3. Connect the input DC supply to "V2+" and "COM."
4. Adjust the switching frequency to 70 kHz.
5. Capture the waveforms and measure the output voltage mean and on-time of the gate-to-source voltage (also the duty ratio).
6. Record the input current and voltage reading on the DC power supply.
7. Adjust the switching frequency to 40 kHz, 20 kHz, and 10 kHz (or minimum possible if 10 kHz cannot be reached).
8. Repeat the above steps for each of these three switching frequencies.
9. Turn OFF the input DC supply and "S90," and then disassemble the circuit.