Voltlog #246 – What if we install a heatsink on the TPS61088 boost module?

In the previous video where I took a closer look at the TPS61088, I did some measurements of the output noise but I also ran the module up to the maximum specified output power of 12V 2A. It was to be expected that the losses would turn into heat and just the small size of the board would not be enough to dissipate all that heat safely so the boost chip reached a toasty 150 degrees Celsius and inevitably went into thermal protection.

There were two questions that people mainly left in the comments of that video. First people were curious if this module would behave differently if a heatsink was installed and also some people thought about using this module in a fixed configuration, because if you remember there is a chip on this module that will switch the output voltage based on quick charge spec, depending on what the load is requesting through that protocol but people might just want a simple fixed output. To this I would add a third question of my own, what is the real efficiency figure of this module, at the maximum output. 

Voltlog #245 – TPS61088 Boost Module Test (with QC3.0)

The real limitation for this small module to output the claimed 24W for longer periods of time is temperature. There is not enough thermal dissipation happening with this small pcb. Having a bigger pcb with more copper layers would help and it would probably allow this module to output continuously and prevent the TI controller chip from going into thermal overload. Even so I was impressed that running it into thermal protection several times did not do any damage the chip recovered on it’s own each time and no magic smoke escaped during these tests.

So all of this considered, this is probably one of the best dc-dc boost converter modules I got from China so far and I would recommend getting one of these if the specs meet your needs.

Voltlog #60 – InTheMail

Welcome to a new InTheMail video where I show you everything I purchase electronics related.

A list of items appearing in this video:

  • 0:10 Hakko A1321 ceramic heating element
  • 4:30 Soldering iron soft metallic cleaning sponge
  • 5:25 Alcohol plastic container 200ml
  • 6:00 Antistatic ESD working gloves
  • 7:21 Star shaped led aluminium pcb base
  • 8:00 Cree XTE White LED
  • 9:33 Pentalobe 0.8mm screwdriver
  • 10:25 Excellway CH2 Quick Wire Connector
  • 11:30 M3 x 25mm black countersunk hex screw
  • 12:27 High voltage 3V to 7KV boost module
  • 14:32 1W 350mA led driver with pwm control
  • 16:38 DHT11 humidity and temperature sensor
  • 17:23 Bi-directional 4 line level converter module