Adafruit UBEC DC/DC Step-Down (Buck) Converter - 5V @ 3A output

Your power supply problems just got solved. This little circuit board may look tiny, but inside is a high efficiency DC/DC step-down converter that can output up to 3 Amps at 5V without any heat-sink or forced cooling. It does get a bit toasty at full capacity. UBEC stands for "universal battery eliminator circuit", and this UBEC is designed to replace a 5V supply in RC planes and copters. It’s also excellent for various microcontroller or electronics projects running off 5V.

After testing a half dozen BECs, this one stands out in terms of range and stability. Connect 6V up to 16V (recommended) to the input side wires, and 5V will be generated on the output side wires. Expect regulated 5V output with a tolerance of ±5% from a higher voltage input. The device provides a continuous 3A output with a 5A peak—it’s recommended to supply a bit over 6V, such as 7V, when drawing 3A.

The UBEC includes built-in filter capacitors on both input and output, but as a switching supply, it’s slightly noisier compared to linear regulators. An easy-to-read label on the clear heat shrink around the circuit board provides guidance—IN-side includes open wires for 7V-12V input, and the OUT-side features a black 3-pin female connector for 5V supply. Peeling back the heat shrink reveals an MP2307 chip with detailed conversion efficiency in its datasheet.