KA

Discovery Project: 5V → 15V Boost Converter

A power electronics project where I designed, simulated, and prototyped a DC–DC boost converter that raises a 5V input to about 15V, while comparing QSPICE simulations to real hardware behavior.

Idea Progress ECE Skills

Starting Idea / Pitch

Initial Concept

My starting idea for the Discovery Project was to build a practical circuit that forced me to understand switching behavior, inductors, and real-world non-ideal components. A boost converter is perfect for that: it is widely used in battery-powered electronics to step up voltage, and its behavior is strongly tied to core ECE concepts.

The target was simple on paper: design a converter that takes 5V in and boosts it to roughly 15V out using an inductor, MOSFET, diode, and output capacitor, controlled by a PWM signal.

Requirements

  • Input: 5V DC supply
  • Output: ~15V DC, stable after startup
  • Inductor: 22µH (chosen from typical boost designs)
  • Switch: AO4262E MOSFET
  • Diode: ES3A fast-recovery rectifier
  • Simulation and measurement comparison
Boost converter breadboard prototype

Breadboard prototype of the 5V → 15V boost converter.

Project Progress

Week 1–2 Reviewed boost converter equations and relationships between duty cycle and output voltage (Vout = Vin / (1 − D)).
Week 3 Built a QSPICE schematic of the converter and started transient simulations.
Week 4 Chose inductor, MOSFET, diode, and capacitor values; checked current and voltage ratings.
Week 5–6 Prototyped the circuit on a breadboard and verified that the output voltage rose above 5V.
Week 7–8 Captured waveforms, compared overshoot and settling between simulation and hardware, and documented results.

Schematic & Simulation

QSPICE schematic of the 5V to 15V boost converter

QSPICE schematic showing the 22µH inductor, AO4262E MOSFET, ES3A diode, 100µF capacitor, and 30Ω load.

Boost converter simulation waveform showing overshoot and settling

Simulation: output voltage ramps up from 5V, overshoots near ~22V, then settles close to the 15V target.

The simulation predicted a noticeable startup overshoot followed by a decaying ripple as the output settled. When I tested the real circuit, I observed a very similar shape on the oscilloscope, which gave me confidence that the model and component choices were reasonable.

Project Successes & Failures

Successes

  • Successfully boosted 5V to approximately 15V on the bench.
  • Simulation waveforms matched real hardware behavior (overshoot + settling).
  • Component ratings were chosen correctly; no devices were overstressed.
  • Demonstrated clear relationship between duty cycle and output voltage.

Roadblocks & Failures

  • Overshoot: Initially saw a higher-than-expected peak voltage. This led me to think about soft-start and ramping duty cycle more gently.
  • Ripple and ringing: Breadboard parasitics and long leads introduced ringing that was not as strong in simulation, highlighting layout as a key next step.
  • Diode losses: The ES3A’s forward drop reduces efficiency; in a next revision I’d test a Schottky diode designed for switching converters.

ECE Skills Gained

Technical / Power Skills

  • Understanding the boost converter topology and duty-cycle equation.
  • Selecting inductor, diode, MOSFET, and capacitor values based on ratings and ripple.
  • Using QSPICE to run transient simulations and interpret waveforms.
  • Recognizing overshoot, ripple, and steady-state behavior on both plots and scope captures.

Practical Lab Skills

  • Breadboarding a switching converter safely.
  • Using an oscilloscope to measure output voltage vs. time.
  • Debugging issues caused by parasitic inductance/Capacitance in wiring.
  • Documenting results clearly with annotated screenshots and photos.

Final Thoughts & Future Work

Overall, this Discovery Project made power electronics feel much more concrete. Instead of just seeing the boost converter equation in a slide, I watched the inductor current ramp, the diode conduct, and the output voltage settle into place. It also showed me how important layout, parasitics, and component selection are if I ever want to ship a design instead of just simulating it.

This experience strengthened my interest in the Power & Electronics side of ECE. In the future, I’d like to design a PCB version of this converter, add proper feedback regulation, and measure real efficiency across load conditions. That would turn this Discovery Project into a stepping stone for more advanced converter designs.