Has anyone used these DC-DC converters?

[plasmadrive]

I will bring samples and other stuff. 

 

How many of those small converters do you want?  Whatever I have in them is what you can have them for.. I am thinking around $3 each with heatsink.  How does that sound? 

[Dave H1]

Here's another weatherproof model, but 5A: http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-S0-Step-Down-Voltage-Regulator-DC-12-24V-to-5V-5A-25W-Buck-Converter-Module-/281158864077?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41765fcccd

 

And a waterproof 8A version, if you wanted to drive two strips: http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-Buck-Converter-12V-24V-to-5V-8A-Step-Down-Car-Power-Supply-Waterproof-Module-/130978392733?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e7eebaa9d

 

And a 10A version http://www.ebay.com/itm/10A-50W-DC-Converter-Voltage-Step-Down-12V-24V-to-5V-Waterproof-LED-Power-Supply-/350853521272?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51b07fdf78

 

And a 15A version, if you wanted to drive 5 strips: http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-Buck-Converter-12V-24V-to-5V-15A-Step-Down-Voltage-Adapter-Car-Power-Supply-/141048948798?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20d72c283e

 

And a 20A version: http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-12V-24V-to-5V-20A-100W-DC-DC-Step-Down-Power-Converter-Regulator-/121116082153?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c3314bfe9

 

And a 30A version: http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-DC-Converter-Regulator-12V-24V-down-to-5V-30A-150W-/120764296826?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1e1cee7a

 

And a 3A version with adjustable output: http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-DC-12V-to-5V-24V-to-5V-24v-to-12v-Adjustable-Power-Supply-Converter-Module-/261143055474?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ccd56cc72

 

Here's the cheapest 3A, 12v ($2.57) that I could find: http://www.ebay.com/itm/V1NF-23mm-Car-Charger-DC-Voltage-Regulator-Converter-Module-12V-To-5V-3A-15W-/221268709868?pt=BI_Circuit_Breakers_Transformers&hash=item3384a491ec

 

And the cheapest 5A, 24v ($8.00) that I could find: http://www.ebay.com/itm/V1NF-Step-Down-Voltage-Regulator-DC-12-24V-to-5V-5A-25W-Buck-Converter-Module-/221271559747?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3384d00e43

 

 

And if you want a DIY solution:

 

3A regulators: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LM323K-LM323-Voltage-Regulator-5V-3A-SGS-THOMSON-/140565894279?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20ba615487

 

and: http://www.ebay.com/itm/20pcs-LM2576T-5-0-LM2576T-5V-3A-REG-BUCK-Voltage-Regulator-NS-/390645382531?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5af4477d83

 

5A regulators: http://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-New-LM1084-LM1084IT-5-0-Voltage-Regulator-5V-5A-TO-220-/280952879925?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item416a18bb35

 

 

Wow Ken,

 

you get an "AAA" for your homework for tonight.........

 

wonder if you can help me out.  I have a couple of the 12v 10w LED floods as tree up-lights   

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-Low-Voltage-10W-Warm-Soft-White-LED-Flood-Wash-Landscape-Garden-Stake-Light-/130994396846?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item1e7fdfdeae#ht_2809wt_1286

 

Lightning struck close, a few houses down, and toasted these two lights. 

 

These lights accept both 12v ac and 12v dc and then convert to 12vdc output.

 

Have you seen these type of regulators (12vac and dc input)available for direct purchase??

I'm using a standard landscape lighting transformer to drive them

Edited September 18, 2013 by Dave H1

[Ken Benedict]

It's probably a bridge rectifier in series with a 12v DC regulator (or some similar custom design) that drives the LEDs.

 

If you're not a technical type of person that's comfortable with a voltmeter and soldering iron, it's best just to purchase new ones.

 

However, if you are technical, you should check the LEDs to see what voltage they are first; don't assume they're always 12 volts.

Try a variable power supply on them to check if they still work and at what voltage they work at.

 

Then put together a diode bridge and regulator and test them.

You'll be working with low voltage, so at worst you'll let the magic smoke out and have to replace something.

[TonyD]

Glad to hear it.

 

For my test, I ran a 105% load then dropped the input voltage down gradually to find the lowest dropout voltage.

From that, I calculated the wire size and max length of the run. Ended up around 35-38 feet on 18 gage wire. (for my application).

 

Maybe you'll have the final results for this Friday's LOR meeting in Sacramento.

 

Are the details of this Friday's meeting in Sac posted somewhere? Is it open to anyone?

[Ken Benedict]

Are the details of this Friday's meeting in Sac posted somewhere? Is it open to anyone?

Open to anyone that wants to drive to Old Sacramento near the riverboat at the Round Table Pizza at 6:00pm.

Pizza is downstairs at 127 K Street.

 

Map: http://mapq.st/18auDp2

 

From your location, take I-80 East to downtown Sacramento, then I-5 North about 1 mile then J Street exit.

Follow the map above.

Edited September 18, 2013 by Ken Benedict

[TonyD]

Open to anyone that wants to drive to Old Sacramento near the riverboat at the Round Table Pizza at 6:00pm.

Pizza is downstairs at 127 K Street.

 

Map: http://mapq.st/18auDp2

 

From your location, take I-80 East to downtown Sacramento, then I-5 North about 1 mile then J Street exit.

Follow the map above.

 

Thanks I will try to make it. Is there an agenda or just an informal meeting?

[plasmadrive]

I will bring some DC-DC converters for everyone to see and perhaps some other touchy feely things if I can figure out what others may want to see. 

 

Our meeting is informal.... There should be at least 3 technical specialties there to tap into.    I assume Shaggy is still going to be there.  He helped me out a great deal about networking last time. 

[plasmadrive]

I have an update on the DC-DC converters.  Sad to say that my initial excitement about these particular ones has warn off.  I experienced about a 16% factory defect rate.  The +5vdc output was shorted to the case (heatsink) and they spit out noise like there was no tomorrow.  When the good ones worked, they worked fine.

 

Now the worse news.  The factory refused to send replacements by air even though I paid for air shipping the first time.  I was very specific that they send by DHL and NOT postal.  The sent them by post anyway and refused to make good on the shipping.  They did not even offer up to split it, or to even have me pay for it.  They just flat refused and shipped them by postal all in one move before I even got out of bed.   I spent tons of equipment and man hours (bucket truck up and down to the roof top) finding their problem and they just didn't step up to the plate when they should have.

 

The bottom line is the product, when working, appears good.  But the company that makes them is someone less then stellar when called on to stand behind defects.

[plasmadrive]

UPDATE.. .should anyone care.. 

 

Got 4 replacements today (finally). 1 of the 4, or 25% have the same shorted output as the others I had problems with.  I even took a video of me testing them before I even opened the package.  I poked leads thru the anti static bag and measured the shorted output lead to the case.  You would have thought that since I went thru such great lengths to explain the problem to them that they would have at least been smart enough to test the replacements they sent me... NOT!  

 

I have two more replacements on the way that should be here soon.  I wonder if they are any good as well.   I still don't think they believe they could have such a problem.. video proof be damned.  

 

BTW, this is PRODCTODC that is making these failed parts.  Too bad too, they looked good and the ones that run seem to do pretty good.. except of course the one that failed high voltage, that kinda sucked badly. 

[plasmadrive]

Here is the final outcome of my DC-DC converter issues.

 

ProDCtoDC decided to bury their heads in the sand and ignore the fact that they have a problem in manufacturing.  They sent me 4 more converters in an attempt to settle our dispute. 

 

Of the 4 they sent, 2 were bad and had the same exact problem the first failures had.  The +5vdc output was shorted to the metal case.  I told them what the problem was before they sent replacements.  You would have thought they would at least test the replacements before they sent them.  NOT!

 

They keep trying to tell me they have never had this problem before and don't think it could be their fault.  When the last batch arrived I never even opened them.  I just poked my test leads thru the sealed plastic bags and measured.  I videoed that test and sent it to them.  Their response at that point was to no longer answer my emails. 

 

A PayPal dispute yielded a partial refund for shipping costs, but I am still short of good converters that I paid for.  I would urge anyone that is looking to deal with this company to beware.  This has been a long battle and one that didn't need to happen.  Poor quality control.. too bad because the original tests were very promising. 

 

One more Chinese company that should not get any of our business in the future.