Buck (Step-Down) Converters

Buck converters (also called step-down converters) are efficient DC-DC power regulators that reduce input voltage to a lower, stable output voltage—essential when your power source provides more voltage than your project needs.

How they work: Buck converters use high-frequency switching and energy storage (inductors and capacitors) to efficiently step down voltage while maintaining power. Unlike simple voltage dividers or linear regulators that waste excess energy as heat, buck converters achieve 85-95% efficiency by intelligently controlling when and how power flows to the load.

Common applications:

  • Powering 5V or 3.3V microcontrollers and sensors from 12V batteries
  • Running LED strips at optimal voltage from higher-voltage supplies
  • Creating multiple voltage rails in DIY electronics projects
  • Charging devices from car batteries or solar panels
  • Stepping down wall adapter voltages for breadboard circuits

Key advantage: While the output voltage decreases, the available current increases proportionally (minus small losses), so a buck converter stepping 12V down to 5V can theoretically deliver twice the current at the lower voltage. This makes them ideal for powering current-hungry components like motors, high-power LEDs, or Raspberry Pi boards from common battery packs or power supplies.

For a summary of our sealed/waterproof step-down converters, view our DC-DC Step-Down Buck Converter Product Selector Guide (PDF).