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Building Block Solution for Switching Converters FAQs

Q: What applications or use cases is this kit designed for?

Rapid prototyping and evaluation of power supply solutions Educational tool for understanding switched-mode power supply topologies Reference design for integrating our DC-DC monolithic switching regulators into custom projects

Q: Why is this kit useful for rapid prototyping?

The Building Block Solutions – Switchers (BB22H52A) kit speeds up prototyping because it provides a preconfigured set of highly diverse, pre‑configured power supply blocks that you can test, compare, instrument and integrate immediately—no design or assembly required.

Q: How do I decide which sub-module to use?

Use the sub-module whose topology and voltage range match your need: If you need to step up from a low voltage (battery) to a higher rail (e.g., 3.3V, 12V, 24V) → choose boost (BBS1/BBS3/BBS4/BBS5) If you need to step down from a higher voltage to 3.3V or 5V → choose buck (BBS2/BBS7). If you need a constant-current LED string driver up to 100 mA → choose BBS6

Q: How do I power up the boost regulator sub-modules (BBS1, BBS3, BBS4, BBS5)?

The power-up procedure for the boost switching regulators is the following: Connect the power supply to the input terminals of the chosen sub-module (input voltage should be lower than the output voltage; see Table 1‑1 in the user’s guide) Connect the load to VOUT (+) and GND (–) EN is pulled high by default through a resistor Turn on the supply and monitor VOUT with a voltmeter. Output should be close to nominal; adjusting input voltage and load should not cause the output to vary more than a few mV over the operating range.

Q: How do I power up the buck regulator sub-modules (BBS2, BBS7)?

The power-up procedure for the buck switching regulators is the following: Connect the power supply to VIN (input voltage should be higher than the output voltage; see Table 1‑1 from the user’s guide) Connect the load to VOUT (+) and GND (–) EN is pulled high by default through a resistor Turn on the supply and monitor VOUT; it should be close to nominal and remain stable (only a few mV change) across operating range when varying input and load

Q: How do I power up the LED driver sub-module (BBS6 – MCP1664 LED Driver)?

The LED driver power-up procedure is: Connect the supply to BBS6 input; input voltage should be lower than the combined forward voltage of the LED string Connect LED anode (+) to L+ and LED cathode (–) to L‑ By default, the DIM terminal (EN pin) is pulled high. Apply a low-voltage rectangular signal to DIM to adjust light intensity (see MCP1664 data sheet per the user’s guide). Before turning on, you can connect an ammeter in series with the LED string to monitor output current. Expected current is 100 mA (±10 mA); changing input voltage should not vary the current more than a few mA over the operating range.

Q: What “nominal outputs” are pre-configured on the board?

The guide lists the sub-module outputs as: 3.3V (BBS1/BBS2/BBS3), 12V (BBS4), 24V (BBS5), LED string <25V at 100 mA (BBS6) and 5V (BBS7).

Q: What are the input voltage ranges for each sub-module?

Table 1‑1 in the user’s guide lists: BBS1 (MCP16251 boost): 1.5V nominal input BBS2 (MCP16311 buck): 4.5V–30V input BBS3 (MCP16411 boost): 1.5V nominal input BBS4 (MCP1663 boost): 2.4V–5.5V input BBS5 (MCP1664 boost): 2.4V–5.5V input BBS6 (MCP1664 LED driver): 2.4V–5.5V input BBS7 (MCP16331 buck): 6V–50V input

Q: What are the maximum output currents for each sub-module?

Table 1‑1 from the user’s guide lists: BBS1: 100 mA BBS2: 1A BBS3: 200 mA BBS4: 200 mA BBS5: 150 mA BBS6: 100 mA (LED driver output current) BBS7: 500 mA

What are the seven sub-modules and what do they do?

BBS1 – MCP16251 Boost Regulator: Boost, 3.3V out and up to 100 mA; features include true load disconnect and 14 µA typical no‑load input current
BBS2 – MCP16311 Buck Regulator: Buck, 3.3V out and up to 1A; features include automatic Programmable Flash Memory (PFM) and Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) and synchronous rectification
BBS3 – MCP16411 Boost Regulator: Boost, 3.3V out and up to 200 mA; features include automatic input‑to‑output bypass (while in regulation), programmable Undervoltage Lockout (UVLO), programmable Low Battery Output (LBO), and Power Good/Power Good With Thermal Protection (PG/PGT)
BBS4 – MCP1663 Boost Regulator: Boost, 12V out and up to 200 mA; UVLO, 250 µA typical no‑load input current
BBS5 – MCP1664 Boost Regulator: Boost, 24V out and up to 150 mA; UVLO, 250 µA typical no‑load input current
BBS6 – MCP1664 LED Driver: LED driver, <25V LED string, 100 mA, open load protection (OLP) and UVLO
BBS7 – MCP16331 Buck Regulator: Buck, 5V out and up to 500 mA; includes internal pull‑up on EN

What applications or use cases is this kit designed for?

Rapid prototyping and evaluation of power supply solutions
Educational tool for understanding switched-mode power supply topologies
Reference design for integrating our DC-DC monolithic switching regulators into custom projects

Why is this kit useful for rapid prototyping?

The Building Block Solutions – Switchers (BB22H52A) kit speeds up prototyping because it provides a preconfigured set of highly diverse, pre‑configured power supply blocks that you can test, compare, instrument and integrate immediately—no design or assembly required.

How do I decide which sub-module to use?

Use the sub-module whose topology and voltage range match your need:

If you need to step up from a low voltage (battery) to a higher rail (e.g., 3.3V, 12V, 24V) → choose boost (BBS1/BBS3/BBS4/BBS5)
If you need to step down from a higher voltage to 3.3V or 5V → choose buck (BBS2/BBS7).
If you need a constant-current LED string driver up to 100 mA → choose BBS6

How do I power up the boost regulator sub-modules (BBS1, BBS3, BBS4, BBS5)?

The power-up procedure for the boost switching regulators is the following:

Connect the power supply to the input terminals of the chosen sub-module (input voltage should be lower than the output voltage; see Table 1‑1 in the user’s guide)
Connect the load to VOUT (+) and GND (–)
EN is pulled high by default through a resistor
Turn on the supply and monitor VOUT with a voltmeter. Output should be close to nominal; adjusting input voltage and load should not cause the output to vary more than a few mV over the operating range.

How do I power up the buck regulator sub-modules (BBS2, BBS7)?

The power-up procedure for the buck switching regulators is the following:

Connect the power supply to VIN (input voltage should be higher than the output voltage; see Table 1‑1 from the user’s guide)
Connect the load to VOUT (+) and GND (–)
EN is pulled high by default through a resistor
Turn on the supply and monitor VOUT; it should be close to nominal and remain stable (only a few mV change) across operating range when varying input and load

How do I power up the LED driver sub-module (BBS6 – MCP1664 LED Driver)?

The LED driver power-up procedure is:

Connect the supply to BBS6 input; input voltage should be lower than the combined forward voltage of the LED string
Connect LED anode (+) to L+ and LED cathode (–) to L‑
By default, the DIM terminal (EN pin) is pulled high. Apply a low-voltage rectangular signal to DIM to adjust light intensity (see MCP1664 data sheet per the user’s guide).
Before turning on, you can connect an ammeter in series with the LED string to monitor output current. Expected current is 100 mA (±10 mA); changing input voltage should not vary the current more than a few mA over the operating range.

What “nominal outputs” are pre-configured on the board?

The guide lists the sub-module outputs as: 3.3V (BBS1/BBS2/BBS3), 12V (BBS4), 24V (BBS5), LED string <25V at 100 mA (BBS6) and 5V (BBS7).

What are the input voltage ranges for each sub-module?

Table 1‑1 in the user’s guide lists:

BBS1 (MCP16251 boost): 1.5V nominal input
BBS2 (MCP16311 buck): 4.5V–30V input
BBS3 (MCP16411 boost): 1.5V nominal input
BBS4 (MCP1663 boost): 2.4V–5.5V input
BBS5 (MCP1664 boost): 2.4V–5.5V input
BBS6 (MCP1664 LED driver): 2.4V–5.5V input
BBS7 (MCP16331 buck): 6V–50V input

What are the maximum output currents for each sub-module?

Table 1‑1 from the user’s guide lists:

BBS1: 100 mA
BBS2: 1A
BBS3: 200 mA
BBS4: 200 mA
BBS5: 150 mA
BBS6: 100 mA (LED driver output current)
BBS7: 500 mA

Building Block Solution for Switching Converters FAQs

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