0.5V to 3.3V step up component + circuit

[Riccardo Manfrin]

Hi NG,
I'm looking for the most efficient way to convert a 3.6Amp, 0.5V input
DC source into a 3.3V output; in practise I need to have a solar cell
unit feed a microcontroller. Obviously I'd like to be as much
efficient as possible (the maximum

I found 2 candidates for the purpose, but I'm not sure they can
satisfy the needs: LTC3105 and LTC3429 (which would work at it's under-
power threshold).
Do you think those two guys are fitted for the purpose? Can you advice
with some electrical scheme to use for them in couple with my solar
power cell?
Thanks in advance.
RM

 

[Rich Grise]

Riccardo Manfrin wrote:

Hi NG,
I'm looking for the most efficient way to convert a 3.6Amp, 0.5V input
DC source into a 3.3V output; in practise I need to have a solar cell
unit feed a microcontroller. Obviously I'd like to be as much
efficient as possible (the maximum

I found 2 candidates for the purpose, but I'm not sure they can
satisfy the needs: LTC3105 and LTC3429 (which would work at it's under-
power threshold).
Do you think those two guys are fitted for the purpose? Can you advice
with some electrical scheme to use for them in couple with my solar
power cell?
Thanks in advance.
RM

Have you considered putting your solar cells in series?

Good Luck!
Rich

 

[Tim Wescott]

On 06/06/2011 03:12 AM, Riccardo Manfrin wrote:

Hi NG,
I'm looking for the most efficient way to convert a 3.6Amp, 0.5V input
DC source into a 3.3V output; in practise I need to have a solar cell
unit feed a microcontroller. Obviously I'd like to be as much
efficient as possible (the maximum

I found 2 candidates for the purpose, but I'm not sure they can
satisfy the needs: LTC3105 and LTC3429 (which would work at it's under-
power threshold).
Do you think those two guys are fitted for the purpose? Can you advice
with some electrical scheme to use for them in couple with my solar
power cell?
Thanks in advance.
RM

Start by rearranging your 1.8 watts worth of cells into a series
combination that delivers 5V at 360mA. Then use a buck converter.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

 

[Rich Grise]

Tim Wescott wrote:

On 06/06/2011 03:12 AM, Riccardo Manfrin wrote:
Hi NG,
I'm looking for the most efficient way to convert a 3.6Amp, 0.5V input
DC source into a 3.3V output; in practise I need to have a solar cell
unit feed a microcontroller. Obviously I'd like to be as much
efficient as possible (the maximum

I found 2 candidates for the purpose, but I'm not sure they can
satisfy the needs: LTC3105 and LTC3429 (which would work at it's under-
power threshold).
Do you think those two guys are fitted for the purpose? Can you advice
with some electrical scheme to use for them in couple with my solar
power cell?
Thanks in advance.
RM

Start by rearranging your 1.8 watts worth of cells into a series
combination that delivers 5V at 360mA. Then use a buck converter.

Why would you not just slap them across the circuit, maybe with a

zener regulator? Don't they inherently voltage-limit, like any
diode?

With a supply as lame as solar cells, it seems to me that a buck
regulator would be a little wasteful, but I'm probably wrong, so
let me have it. ;-)

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Tim Wescott]

On Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:07:16 -0700, Rich Grise wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:
On 06/06/2011 03:12 AM, Riccardo Manfrin wrote:
Hi NG,
I'm looking for the most efficient way to convert a 3.6Amp, 0.5V input
DC source into a 3.3V output; in practise I need to have a solar cell
unit feed a microcontroller. Obviously I'd like to be as much
efficient as possible (the maximum

I found 2 candidates for the purpose, but I'm not sure they can
satisfy the needs: LTC3105 and LTC3429 (which would work at it's
under- power threshold).
Do you think those two guys are fitted for the purpose? Can you advice
with some electrical scheme to use for them in couple with my solar
power cell?
Thanks in advance.
RM

Start by rearranging your 1.8 watts worth of cells into a series
combination that delivers 5V at 360mA. Then use a buck converter.

Why would you not just slap them across the circuit, maybe with a zener
regulator? Don't they inherently voltage-limit, like any diode?

With a supply as lame as solar cells, it seems to me that a buck
regulator would be a little wasteful, but I'm probably wrong, so let me
have it. ;-)

It depends on what you're trying to do overall. If you want to get the
most out of the solar cell then you need to do maximum power point
tracking, or at least hold it at a constant voltage.

But for 1.8W, maybe just some cruddy linear regulator is the way to go.

--
http://www.wescottdesign.com

 

[George Herold]

On Jun 6, 6:12 am, Riccardo Manfrin <namesurnamegro...@gmail.com>
wrote:

Hi NG,
I'm looking for the most efficient way to convert a 3.6Amp, 0.5V input
DC source into a 3.3V output; in practise I need to have a solar cell
unit feed a microcontroller. Obviously I'd like to be as much
efficient as possible (the maximum

I found 2 candidates for the purpose, but I'm not sure they can
satisfy the needs: LTC3105 and LTC3429 (which would work at it's under-
power threshold).
Do you think those two guys are fitted for the purpose? Can you advice
with some electrical scheme to use for them in couple with my solar
power cell?
Thanks in advance.
RM

Can you put the solar cells in series? (as others suggested). How
much current (at 3.3 volts) do you need?

George H.

 

[BobG]

Have the cell charge two caps in parallel. Get a dpdt toggle switch
and wire up the switch to swap the caps from parallel to series. Now
you have a 1V source. Now replace the switch with mosfets.