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  • Simple Switcher Power Module - LMZ14203 Breakout

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Simple Switcher Power Module - LMZ14203 Breakout

**Replacement: **None. We are no longer building this breakout board. This page is for reference only.

This is a breakout board for National Semiconductor's LMZ14203 Simple Switcher Power Module. The LMZ14203 is a highly efficient DC-to-DC step-down converter that is capable of driving up to 3A. It's an excellent choice for a project that requires a lot of current, high-efficiency or large voltage step-downs.

Our breakout board for the LMZ14203 is configured to deliver your choice of either 5 or 3.3VDC output. The input voltage must be at least 8VDC and can be up to as much as 42VDC. A flick of the DPDT switch allows you to choose the output voltage, but take care not to change the position of the switch while the board is powered and under load.

We couldn't decide what type of input/output interface would be best for this type of board, so we left the choice up to you. As always, there's the standard 0.1" pitch header, but you can also use a 3.5mm screw terminal or a through-hole JST connector. The JST connector is only rated for 1A, so, if you use that, don't try to get the full 3A throughput out of the power switcher.

This revision corrects the silk error so that the '+' and '-' indicators are now in the right place.

Replaces:BOB-09948

Comments

Looking for answers to technical questions?

We welcome your comments and suggestions below. However, if you are looking for solutions to technical questions please see our Technical Assistance page.

  • Member #14195 / about 6 years ago / 1

    I, too, used one of these boards to power a 5V single board computer (SheevaPlug) for years, and would have liked to use something similar to power newer SBCs from a 12V supply (I have lots of 12V running around my ham radio shack). It's a shame there is no replacement --- it is hard to find anything like it, anywhere.

  • housel / about 10 years ago / 1

    This board has proven to be a great way of powering a 5V single-board computer (initially a BeagleBoard-xM, now a Wandboard Quad) from the 12V battery supply on my robot. Looks like at the moment it would be somewhat hard to replace if I should need to do that.

  • Arken420 / about 12 years ago / 1

    Any idea if this is going to available again?

  • signal7 / about 13 years ago / 1

    I'll throw a vote for a continuously variable version also. I'm a bit surprised SFE made the decision to go with only two output voltages on the breakout since a truly variable output would cover a lot more situations.
    ...and putting another regulator on the output of this regulator doesn't count if you ask me. If you have enough adapters, I suppose you could make anything into anything else, but that's really not an elegant solution.

  • weeotch / about 13 years ago / 1

    Datasheet for the LMZ14203 specifies input voltage as 6-42Vdc. Is there a reason this breakout board requires 8Vdc minimum?

    • Kamilion / about 13 years ago / 1

      My guess is 8VDC minimum for 5V output, 6VDC minimum for 3.3V output.

  • Madbodger / about 13 years ago / 1

    Looks like the + and - callouts are still backwards on two of the output connectors on the schematic (the Eagle one, not the PDF one). Additionally, the input connectors are wired like a plumber's nightmare, not neatly like the output connectors. Note that you could use the JST connector on the input and pull more than 1A on the output, provided the input supply was high enough.

  • koolatron / about 13 years ago / 1

    Any chance there's an adjustable-output version in the works? 5V/3V3 covers many use-cases, but I can think of at least a dozen situations where I'd want something higher or lower.

    • RVaughan2 / about 13 years ago / 1

      Datasheet says its good from 0.8v to 6.0v. If you need lower, just feed a adj. voltage reg. with this and you should be good to go. Need higher, probably would want to look into something else.

      • koolatron / about 13 years ago / 1

        Yes, the datasheet for the LMZ14203 does specify that it's good from 0.8-6.0V. However, this breakout is configured for only the two choices mentioned above in the description. I'd prefer something with a more continuous level of adjustability.

        • ATtiny Fan / about 12 years ago / 1

          Most hobbyists are very rarely(at least for me) if ever going to use other voltages unless the are using extremely low power components like 1.8V, 2.8V.

  • unmanaged / about 13 years ago / 1

    Going to get one of these for a project but the screw terminal you listed says "will not fit standard 0.1" and this has" there's the standard 0.1 pitch header" so what will work before I buy... peace ...

    • TLAlexander / about 13 years ago / 1

      There are 3 footprints there. A 0.1" footprint for a regular header, one for a screw terminal, and one for a JST header.

  • Farnsworth / about 13 years ago / 1

    Nice ASCII pic ... I haven't noticed that before!

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