Unable to build a boost converter

[David lopez]

I have tried building a boost converter. It did not work. How do I get it to work? I used the circuit I found on wikipedia.https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw2hGjpNc1ZjiEYhKNMRh_VJ

 

[NascentOxygen]

I have tried building a boost converter. It did not work. How do I get it to work? I used the circuit I found on wikipedia.

Which circuit did you construct? Please show your schematic with component values and part numbers.

 

[David lopez]

It was the first circuit under circuit analysis that I saw. I don't know the inductance of the inductor I used.

 

[berkeman]

I have tried building a boost converter. It did not work. How do I get it to work?

I would recommend that you stick with the "Simple Switcher" series of DC-DC converters and support information as you learn the basics. There is a lot of great tutorial information published by National Semiconductor (now part of TI), and the parts can be purchased easily at Digikey.com

Helpful design information and calculator software:

http://www.ti.com/tool/SWITCHERSMADESIMPLE-SW?keyMatch=simple switcher&tisearch=Search-EN-Everything
Digikey search for parts, etc:

https://www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=simple%20switcher

 

[David lopez]

I don't know what the simple switcher
Series of dc-dc converters is?

 

[David lopez]

What are the basics. I tried studying the wikipedia article.

 

[DaveE]

1) If you follow berkeman's link or search for "simple switcher" you can learn about these ICs. Sorry, some self study may be necessary.

2) The Wikipedia article is the basics. There are many other sources of information out there about switching power supplies.

3) These circuits can be a bit difficult to build if you don't have much experience building electronics. There is a lot of practical knowledge required to avoid problems (thinks like layout, proper component selection, bypass capacitors, cooling, etc.). They are also difficult to do if you aren't very familiar with how they are supposed to work. Trial and error isn't the best approach.

4) I suggest searching IC manufacturers like TI.com or Analog.com to learn more, they have lots of different tools (data sheets, application notes, simulators, reference designs, ...).

 

[David lopez]

Can you tell me how to detect the voltage spike caused by an inductor on a breadboard? I really want to know.

 

[DaveE]

Can you tell me how to detect the voltage spike caused by an inductor on a breadboard? I really want to know.

99.999% of the time EEs will use an oscilloscope for this. If the spike is very quick you may need a pretty fast scope. Something like 100MHz bandwidth should be good enough for most circuits.

 

[Rive]

I don't know the inductance of the inductor I used.

Could you please post a photo of your setup? That would help us a lot so we could adjust the level of our answers.

I have a very bad feeling that it'll contain a (mechanical) switch ...

 

[DaveE]

I have a very bad feeling that it'll contain a (mechanical) switch

You mean like a car ignition circuit from the 1950's?
Let's not be condescending to someone learning new stuff. These are not unreasonable questions. There was a time when we had a hard time with circuits like this too.

 

[berkeman]

These are not unreasonable questions. There was a time when we had a hard time with circuits like this too.

Agreed, but it is going to be hard to help @David lopez with questions like this until he gets at least a basic/cheap USB oscilloscope, IMO. It's one thing to try to learn about DC electronics with only a DVM and a soldering iron as tools, but it's much harder to experiment with building AC circuits (with response in the kHz+ range)...

From a different thread:

If you do have an oscilloscope, draw the circuit diagram with the pin numbers shown on the opamp, and use the oscilloscope to probe each of the nodes in the circuit. Write down the DC voltage that you find at each node, and scan and attach that drawing to a reply here. That will help us a lot to guide you to get the circuit working.

I don't have an oscilloscope. I use a
18650 Lithium ion cell as a power source. I am trying to get the phase shift oscillator to oscillate at all.

 

[DaveE]

Aside from book learning, perhaps LTSpice is the next step. A free virtual oscilloscope.

 

[Rive]

There was a time when we had a hard time with circuits like this too.

Around the time I had ~ similar problems as the OP here I was happy with a 'boost converter' of mine which could fire a salvaged flash tube after pushing a small button a few times.

Ps.: that was one of my few 'successful' projects from that time