SparkFun Buck Regulator Breakout - 3.3V (AP63203)

The SparkFun Buck Regulator Breakout - 3.3V (AP63203) is a power regulation solution that features a 2A synchronous buck converter from Diodes Inc. This compact, low-profile board measures just 2.54cm x 2.54cm and offers a wide input voltage range of 3.8V to 32V. It uses a fully integrated 125mΩ high-side power MOSFET/68mΩ low-side power MOSFET to provide high-efficiency step-down DC/DC conversion.

The SparkFun Buck Regulator Breakout offers multiple ways to supply input power. It can be done through screw terminals on the right side of the board, solder pads for a barrel jack, or the plated through holes on the left side of the board. Output can be obtained via the screw terminals or the plated through holes. A copper pad for a heat sink has been added to the back of the board to help dissipate excess heat.

This breakout board stands out for its Frequency Spread Spectrum (FSS) that reduces EMI and a proprietary gate driver scheme that resists switching node ringing without sacrificing MOSFET turn-on and turn-off times. This feature is particularly useful in erasing high-frequency radiated EMI noise.

The SparkFun Buck Regulator Breakout - 3.3V (AP63203) comes with a host of features including VIN 3.8V to 32V, VOUT 3.3V, up to 2A Continuous Output Current, 0.8V ± 1% Reference Voltage, 22µA Ultralow Quiescent Current, and a Switching Frequency of 1.1MHz. It supports Pulse Frequency Modulation (PFM) with up to 80% Efficiency at 1mA Light Load and up to 88% Efficiency at 5mA Light Load. It also boasts a fixed output voltage of 3.3V and a proprietary gate driver design for best EMI reduction.

The board also has protection circuitry including overvoltage protection, cycle-by-cycle peak current limit, and thermal shutdown. All these features make the SparkFun Buck Regulator Breakout - 3.3V (AP63203) a reliable and efficient solution for power regulation needs.