Cheap DC-DC converter with LED display

lbenson

Senior Member
Cheap DC-DC converter with LED DVM display

I've enjoyed playing with a couple of cheap devices from ebay/china, such as the 2-wire voltmeter as explored by erco here:

http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?27594-1-Digital-Voltmeter-Becomes-One-Pin-LED-Display&highlight=voltmeter

e.g.: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Hot-DC-0-30V-Green-LED-2-Wire-Digital-Display-Voltage-Voltmeter-Panel-Motor-A44-/201357524856?hash=item2ee1d7ff78

and the DC-DC converter like this:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1xDC-DC-5V-12V-24V-3A-Converter-Step-Down-Module-LM2596-Buck-Supply-Output-Power-/271969148439?hash=item3f529fde17

I decided to combine them, so hot-glued the display on top of the LM2596, soldered male header pins to the input and output pads, and soldered the LED display leads to the output pins. This enables me to dial a voltage I want, and immediately see the result without breaking out my DVM.

I find this useful for testing how a picaxe battery charging program reacts to various voltages out of the DC-DC converter.
 

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