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Hardware Assembly

Danger: These boards can get extremely HOT

Please handle these boards with the utmost caution. Users can easily burn themselves when the board outputs anything over 2A.

 Headers

New to soldering?

If you have never soldered before or need a quick refresher, check out our How to Solder: Through-Hole Soldering guide.

How to Solder: Through-Hole Soldering

The pins for the SparkFun 5V Buck Regulator Breakout boards are broken out to 0.1"-spaced pins on the outer edges of the board. When selecting headers, be sure you are aware of the functionality and board orientation required.


Soldering headers to the 5V Buck Regulator (AP63357DV).
Soldering headers to the 5V Baby Buck Regulator (AP63357DV).

  • Soldering headers to the 5V Buck Regulator (AP63357DV).

    Bypass the UVLO

    Default Configuration

    On our boards, the EN pin is used to configure the UVLO threshold. Therefore, the power output from the board is enabled by default.

    On the 5V Buck Regulator, users can short the VIN and EN pins with a 2-pin jumper. This will allow users to bypass the UVLO threshold and force the power output to be enabled.

    Headers soldered to the EN and VIN pins on the 5V Buck Regulator and bypassing the UVLO.

    With the 6V undervoltage lockout bypassed, a lower input voltage can be utilized. However, it should be noted that because this is a step-down converter, the output voltage will be limited to the voltage of the power supply and may not be 5V.

  • Soldering headers to the 5V Baby Buck Regulator (AP63357DV).

    Breadboard Use

    When selecting headers for the BabyBuck regulator, the right-angle headers work great with breadboards.

    The 5V Baby Buck Regulator with right-angle headers and a heat sink on a breadboard.

 Hookup Wire

New to soldering?

If you have never soldered before or need a quick refresher, check out our How to Solder: Through-Hole Soldering guide.

How to Solder: Through-Hole Soldering

Users can also solder their wire connections directly to the pins of the SparkFun 5V Buck Regulator Breakout boards. When planning out the connections, be sure you are aware of the functionality required.

Danger

With higher current applications, users should ensure the wires can handle the current load. (i.e. A 32AWG wire probably won't be able to handle 3.5A)


Soldering wires to the 5V Buck Regulator (AP63357DV).
Soldering wires to the 5V Baby Buck Regulator (AP63357DV).

  • Soldering wires to the 5V Buck Regulator (AP63357DV).

  • Soldering wires to the 5V Baby Buck Regulator (AP63357DV).

Alternative Connections

Buck Regulator (only)

The following features are only available on the Buck Regulator and are not available on BabyBuck Regulator.

New to soldering?

If you have never soldered before or need a quick refresher, check out our How to Solder: Through-Hole Soldering guide.

How to Solder: Through-Hole Soldering

To add a barrel jack connector to their board, users will need to solder it to the provided plated through hole slots.

Soldering a barrel jack connector onto the 5V Buck Regulator.

A screw terminal is a great non-permanent solution, to connect the board. To use the screw terminals, simply insert the correct wires into the screw terminal opening and tighten the screw with a small flathead screwdriver for a firm connection.

Connecting a wire to the 5V Buck Regulator's' screw terminal.

Heat Sink

Tip

With larger heat sinks, we recommend a test fit and attaching it last to avoid conflicts with other parts of the board. For example, the heat sink could block the PTH pins/slots or access to the jumper pad.

To attach a heat sink to the board, users will also need a piece of thermal tape. We recommend the following procedure:

  1. Cut out a piece of thermal tape to fit the bottom of the heat sink.

    Tip

    Covering the entire bottom of the heat sink can insulate the electrical contacts on the board from shorting.

    • For a perfect fit, users can place the heat sink over the tape and trace the outline to cut with scissors.
    • For a perfect fit, users can also place the heat sink over the tape and cut the outline with a hobby knife.

  2. Place the piece of thermal tape on the bottom of the heat sink.

    Tip

    We recommend peeling off just one side of the backing sheet or release liner to place the thermal tape on the heat sink. Users can then peel the other side off when they are ready to place the heat sink on their board.

  3. Attach the heat sink to the board.

    • Make sure to make any jumper modifications and/or solder any connections before placing the heat sink on the board.
    • Make sure to avoid any electrical contact with the sides of the heat sink.


Heat sink attached to the 5V Buck Regulator (AP63357DV).
Heat sink attached to the 5V Baby Buck Regulator (AP63357DV).

  • Heat sink attached to the 5V Buck Regulator (AP63357DV).

  • Heat sink attached to the 5V Baby Buck Regulator (AP63357DV).