XL4015 VS XL4005 Buck Converter - What's the difference? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: ElectricPower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2021, 05:08:05 am
content: I need an powerful, but small, Buck converter and when i search on that on AliExpress i find XL4015 and XL4005 modules with 5 amp claimed current rating. I know this is a number taken out of the sky, but the Robojax on Youtube has tested this and it's at least more powerfull than LM2596 module i have.But what is the difference between XL4015 and XL4005 module? I cant find anything that tells me that.I'm going to make myself an "Power rail" for my bench with 3.3V/5V/12V outputs and i want to buy an powerfull Buck Converter module that fits inside my project box and i think XL4015 or 4005 is perfect.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2021, 05:27:55 am
content: Did you look at the datasheet? The XL4015 operates at 180kHz and the XL4005 operates at 300kHz. Keep in mind if you buy the Chinese modules that are available all over for cheap prices you won't get a real XL4005 or XL4015 anyway. Those 99c modules work ok but as I recall they run at around 50kHz so it's a completely different counterfeit part.

author: ElectricPower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2021, 05:31:13 am
content: Quote from: james_s on February 15, 2021, 05:27:55 amI'm not understand that frequency thing. Sorry.I just wan't an buck converter that works. All of my LM2596 modules from China Wark as a charm, but i need one thats more powerfull.

author: Vovk_Z
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2021, 05:55:52 am
content: I'm not shure frequency is the only difference. It seems to me they have a bit different rated current capabilities.As for 5 A I would use XL4016 to be shure (neither 4005 nor 4015). Those XL4015 5A rated modules work fine up to 3.5...4.0 A max.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2021, 07:26:57 am
content: Quote from: ElectricPower on February 15, 2021, 05:31:13 amIt mostly matters from a design standpoint using the bare component. The inductor and output filtering will be different depending on the operating frequency, and radiated noise and other factors.Keep in mind most of these modules will blow up if you try to run them at their actual rated current, normally you need to derate them to 50-70% of rated current.

author: mvs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2021, 12:02:14 pm
content: Quote from: ElectricPower on February 15, 2021, 05:31:13 amXL4015 should run cooler, which is important on this small boards. But asjames_salready said, you probably don't get XL-semi part on this modules and this discussion makes not much sense.PS just searched in google for XL4005 module images. The most of them have iron powder core inductors and some of them have even yellow/white (designed for sub 50-65 KHz operation)

author: ElectricPower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2021, 12:05:33 pm
content: Quote from: mvs on February 15, 2021, 12:02:14 pmThat does not tells me anything....If you want to enlight me, i by you a beer if i meet you (i live in Norway)

author: mvs
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2021, 12:49:55 pm
content: Quote from: ElectricPower on February 15, 2021, 12:05:33 pmLook for ferrite inductor, not an iron ring inductor. Even 180KHz is high frequency for powder iron core and losses are high.If you can't find ferrite, go for green/blue ring inductor. It is designed for 100KHz operation and schould be better then yellow/white ring.

author: Terry Bites
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2021, 01:28:03 pm
content: Find the right inductorhttps://www.coilcraft.com/en-us/tools/reference-design-inductor-finder/#/search

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2021, 08:10:30 pm
content: It sounds like his plan is to use prebuilt modules, so finding an inductor is not important, the module will already come with a suitable inductor. It's very unlikely that the IC it uses is what it says it is though, so the datasheet is not going to be very useful. I don't know why they put fake labels on them, they do work ok, and it wouldn't bother me to buy it as whatever it actually is.