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DC 6-40V to 0-32V 5A 160W Buck Voltage Regulator Review By Jesse Shelly


We are so glad to receive a test comment from Jesse Shelly who entered our Droking Project, thanks to Jesse Shelly. We also will try our best to offer more and better products for Drokers.

While my formal education may be in mechanical engineering, I’ve certainly gotten to work on some really neat electrical projects over the past 20 years. One thing they all have in common is the necessity for a well-regulated power supply. A few months ago an engineering project required a custom control interface that needed a small power regulator, so I purchased a DROK buck converter. I was amazed at how accurate and easy the unit was to work with. This is now the third unit I’ve purchased and I couldn’t wait to try it out!

24V 12V to 5V Step Down Voltage Regulator

My very first impressions of this board was that it was a small work of art. Between the densely packed SMT components along with the vivid LED segment displays make for a very sophisticated voltage regulator. Some of the key features of this board that I was interested in was its ability to accurately regulate both voltage and current output with its auto-selectable constant voltage and constant current modes. Thus, this is where I will focus most of my evaluation.

A very handy feature of this device is the ability to read your input voltage right on the built-in display. This seemed like a great place to begin my testing. With a 12V power source hooked-up, the board displayed an input voltage of 11.96V. A check with my digital multimeter indicated my input voltage was 11.97V, for difference of just 0.01V. Not bad at all!

While having the input voltage displayed is nice, it’s the output voltage display that is really key. This device has two output settings that are automatically selected. The device may select either constant voltage or constant current output depending on the voltage and amperage settings. Depending on which of the two settings maxes out first will determine which mode the device selects. For my first test, I set the output voltage to an arbitrary 5.50 V. A check with the multimeter showed exactly 5.50 volts. Fine then. Let’s bump that up a hundredth of a volt and see how precise this thing really is. With the output set to 5.51 volts now, my voltmeter shows the same, 5.51 volts. Very nice! Of course, this is with no load.

DC 6-40V to 0-32V 5A Buck Converter

I connected a 12V, 800N linear actuator onto the output side of the device. I set the output voltage to 10.5V and left the amperage at the default 5.100 amps. With the output power turned “on”, I was able to retract and extend the actuator with an amperage being displayed as roughly 0.7 amps. While this value continually fluctuated slightly while running (as expected), the value remained within 0.02 amps of my multimeter. Since the limiting power setting in this instance was the voltage of 10.5V, the unit remained in
constant voltage mode. Knowing that the actuator drew approximately 0.7 amps, I modified the amperage setting to just 0.100 amps. With the output power turned “on” once again, the actuator hardly made a sound and the module had gone into constant
current mode since the current setting was now the limiting factor. Raising the amperage up to 0.600 amps got the actuator moving again, although quite a bit slower. Regardless, this power regulator was working like a champ!

Constant Voltage Current Power Supply with LED Ammeter Voltmeter Display

The heatsink built into this device is fairly substantial and should be adequate for most applications. It remained completely cool throughout my initial evaluation. The attention to detail on this board is also noticeable, from the rubber topped tactile buttons to the plastic support feet. This all points to one thing, which is that DROK takes their product design seriously with a high emphasis on quality. I’ve purchased several DROK boards in the past, and this one is on-par with the quality of the previous ones, yet it has some of the greatest features yet!

By | 2018-02-28T06:19:57+00:00 June 13th, 2016|Categories: Buck Converter, Customer Review|Tags: |31 Comments

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31 Comments

  1. andy July 23, 2016 at 9:06 pm - Reply

    I have just received one and its great!

    • Drok July 25, 2016 at 1:51 am - Reply

      Hello andy,
      Thank you for your purchasing.
      We are so glad that the product can meet your demand.
      If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
      Best regards

  2. Thom September 3, 2016 at 9:12 am - Reply

    Is there a clear case available for this board?

    • Drok September 4, 2016 at 3:00 am - Reply

      Hello Thom,
      Thank you for writing in.
      This post is a using experience of a customer.
      If you want to know whether the board is suitable for your application, could you please tell us more details of your application so that we can provide you some suggestions?
      Looking forward to hearing from you.
      Best regards

      • Thom September 5, 2016 at 1:59 am - Reply

        I mean is there a plastic enclosure available for the board reviewed in this article?

      • James H October 8, 2016 at 1:49 am - Reply

        I don’t understand the issue requiring more information. This person ask a very simple question and why can’t you provide a simple answer?
        Although this product looks great, who wants it sitting on ones work bench open to the elements when in use.

        • Drok October 8, 2016 at 3:34 am - Reply

          Hello James H,
          Thank you for writing in.
          So sorry that we cannot ensure which issue and problem you are referring to.
          We want more information, just want to know more about the application of the customer and then provide a more suitable solution to them.
          Different working environment or operation will make a difference in the operating of the product.
          Hope you can understand.
          Best regards

  3. Jon September 13, 2016 at 11:06 am - Reply

    I would’ve wanted one of these, but I really wanted the option for control knobs instead of numerical control

    • Drok September 14, 2016 at 2:16 am - Reply

      Hello Jon,
      Thank you for writing in.
      We are trying our best to improve our products.
      We will take this matter into account when designing the product.
      Hope you can understand.
      Best regards

  4. Nam Trinh January 24, 2017 at 7:57 pm - Reply

    I have purchase ESD tweezers Ceramic Tipped Tweezers with Silver Black Angled Tip
    Part Number 300308
    Item Weight 1.6 ounces
    Product Dimensions 7.9 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
    Item model number 300308

    Now I want to purchase some more with different tip styles.
    I found only part number for Model 300308 and 300300.
    On the package that I received, It shows many styles of the tips (example: 3C-SA, 2A-SA, 7-SA . . . )
    but none of them are appear on your Web Site nor on the Amazon.com Search Engine.
    Where and how I can see more detail to select and purchase, especially needed the PN to order.
    Please advise.
    Thanks
    Nam T

    • Drok January 25, 2017 at 8:37 am - Reply

      Hello Nam Trinh,
      Thank you for writing in.
      We have many kinds of tweezers on sale, but it is a pity that some of them is out of sock.
      We can’t make sure what kind of tweezers you need.
      The following is some of them on sale, please refer to it.
      ASIN:B017B4CS8E
      B016ZNVU2C
      B0171KR450
      Best regards

  5. Andy February 24, 2017 at 2:51 pm - Reply

    I’ve bought one of these, how do I set it to constant current?
    I’m trying to anodise aluminium, and for that, I need a variable output DC power source with constant current output. This looked ideal on amazon, the voltage and amp outputs were exactly what I need and it advertised that it could do constant current, but the moment I tested it, it defaults automatically to constant voltage.

    Can this unit actually provide constant current? how do I set it to do constant current? if not, can you point me to one of your products that can do adjustable constant current of at least 3A

    • Drok February 28, 2017 at 9:29 am - Reply

      Hello Andy,
      Thanks for writing in.
      To give you a correct solution, could you please send us the link of product?
      We are sorry we can’t make sure the item you mention.
      Beg your forgiveness.
      Best regards.

  6. Police February 27, 2017 at 7:29 pm - Reply

    Hi I had just bought this awesome device for around 18$ from amazon and it should reach to me in Kurdistan for about 2 to 3 weeks but please I have some question.

    my situations here is I have a ADSL modem internet and I have a UPS 12 V for my modem (9Ah 12V battery)
    cause we don’t have electricity for hours , this ups im talking about is giving a 13.80 Volt to my modem when it is fully charged and it is unstable output V like from 13.81 to 13.77 this small unstable v cause my modem to get restart all the time and to gives slower internet , then I decided to buy 2 of this awesome DROK NC 5A/160W Converter, so i can set the volt to 12 and the power to 2 A output, will it give me a pure V and A like a pure stable 12.00 V knowing that my input isn’t stable, so my internet modem work smother ?, and what will happen when no electricity my ups will work and the Volt will drop from 13.80 until it reach 12.22 and power off to protect the battery from complete discharge ofcource, what will happen to my (NC 5A/160W Converter) when the input V reach the same output V will this device turn off before my ups shut? any advice plz any word from u could help me alot , thank you so much for all DROK projects I love all of it and I watch it all I’m a big fan.

    • Drok February 28, 2017 at 10:09 am - Reply

      Hello Police,
      Thanks for your writing in.
      We sincerely appreciate your purchase and support.
      About your first question, we are sorry the input power for this item must be stable DC power.
      As for the second question, we have stated it in the product description:
      On the status of output, the input voltage must be higher than the output voltage at least 1V.
      So the output voltage can’t be the same to input voltage.
      Hope this can help you.
      Best regards.

      • Police February 28, 2017 at 10:47 am - Reply

        ok thnx alot, about first answer can i set the Buck Voltage Regulator to a 12V exactly then add a 12 capacitor to the output to make it stable ?,

        and about the second answer, what will happen if i was 13,80 V input and the output was 12, then after 5 hours the source input decrees to a 12 V what will happen do this Buck Voltage Regulator gonna shut down ?
        thnx alot and thank for the fast answer, any idea or answer means alot for me,

        • Drok March 1, 2017 at 7:51 am - Reply

          Dear friend,
          Thanks for your reply.
          About the first question, It should be a gread idea to add a capacitor. But the capacitor should be conenect to the input terminal of our item and it would be better with a biger capacitor filtering.
          About the second question, it would be shunt down or cuase other problem if the input voltage is the same to the output voltage.
          Hope this can help you.
          Best regards.

          • Police March 1, 2017 at 9:25 pm

            Thanks alot for the fast answer , yes im sure this will help me, I will try this after receiving my unit and I will update here
            Best regards and thank you alot dear bro.

  7. Police March 15, 2017 at 4:30 pm - Reply

    yes it did the job but with some capasitors and a filter, thnx alot i love the device, btw can i turn that device display off ? and another quistion do drok have a Dc to liner Dc for sencitive devices ?

    • Drok March 16, 2017 at 9:56 am - Reply

      Hello Police,
      Thank you for your reply.
      We are glad this item can work for you.
      We are sorry there is no way to turn off the display. Hope you can understand.
      About your another question, we feel a little confused. Would you please tell us more detail?
      Best regards.

      • Police March 16, 2017 at 4:40 pm - Reply

        Hi Drok no big problem about the display it color is nice anyway and it don,t take that power to be mentioned I like it anyway thnx,

        oh about the second question I meant a filter like RLC or LC four sensitive devices

        • Drok March 17, 2017 at 8:02 am - Reply

          Hello Police,
          Thank you for your reply.
          We are sorry we don’t have such item at present.
          Hope you can understand.
          We will try our best to improve our product and service.
          Look forward to more cooperation in the future.
          Best regards.

  8. John March 21, 2017 at 3:39 pm - Reply

    The author of the review talks about ‘Constant Voltage Mode’ and ‘Constant Current Mode’, but the brief instructions provided with my device make no mention of these modes. In my case I would simply like to be in ‘Constant Voltage Mode’ exclusively, and simply observe the current flow. Let’s say in my case I have a 100 Ohm load; if I set the output voltage at 12 Volts the current should be 120 mA. Period, end of story. How do I avoid somehow drifting slowly downstream into ‘Constant Current Mode’ without being aware of this situation?

    BTW, I think maybe your switches need to be de-bounced. MC 14490 does the trick.

  9. Barry August 30, 2017 at 10:40 am - Reply

    Hi, does this unit “Drok DC 6-40V to 0-32V 5A 160W Buck Voltage Regulator” have Drok on the underside of the board so I know I’m getting a genuine Drok product?
    Where can I buy this in the UK England?
    Kind regards
    Barry

    • Drok August 31, 2017 at 8:27 am - Reply

      Hello Barry,
      Thanks for writing in.
      Do you mean this item? This is our UK Amazon site.Please be assured that all of items from this site are DROK products
      180076
      Best regards.

      • Barry August 31, 2017 at 9:20 am - Reply

        (Yes I mean this item) Does it have Drok on the underside of the board?

        Other Drok products I have have Drok on the underside of the board.

        Kind regards

        • Drok September 1, 2017 at 7:09 am - Reply

          Hello Barry,
          This item doesn’t have DROK on the board, since it is not easy to mark on some of our items. Hope you can understand.
          Best regards.

          • Barry September 1, 2017 at 8:24 am

            OK thats fine, many thanks.
            Regards Barry

  10. Gvwno February 17, 2019 at 10:09 pm - Reply

    I like it 🙂

    • Drok February 19, 2019 at 9:26 am - Reply

      Hello Gvwno,
      Thanks for your supporting.
      Best regards.

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