Step Down Buck Converter with MP1584

[Zealot]

What is the advantage of using a MP1584 compared to a LM2596?

When I look at a breakout board with a MP1584 it looks unfamiliar (no capacitor, no coil)



(1) the MP1584
(2) is that a coil (4,7µH)?
(3) are those capacitors?

[DVDdoug]

I would assume #2 is the coil.   If you are curious you can trace-out the connections (an Ohmmeter can help), draw the schematic, and compare to the manufacturer's recommended circuit shown on the datasheet.  

The coil will measure a short (or nearly  zero Ohms) with an Ohmmeter.

When I look at a breakout board with a MP1584 it looks unfamiliar (no capacitor, no coil)

The black part above the IC that you didn't mark is probably the output capacitor.

[Wawa]

The big square part is the inductor. The small black part is the schottky rectifier diode.
The brown parts are ceramic smoothing capacitors (~4.7-10uF?) across DC input and output.
Electrolytic caps are bad at the higher switching frequencies these supplies use (~1Mhz)
The general advantage of these micro supplies is better efficiency at low loads.
Leo..

[Zealot]

What exactly is this "switching frequency"?

[Wawa]

A switchmode DC/DC converter uses a switch and inductor to convert from one voltage to another.
The switch (mosfet) works on a high frequency, so inductors and capacitors can be small.
First generation- and bigger supplies work on ~100Khz. Small newer ones upto ~2Mhz.
A switching supply is usually more efficient than a common lineair regulator.
e.g. to convert 12volt to 5volt/1A, ~7watt is lost in a lineair regulator, and ~1watt is lost in a switching regulator.
Leo..

http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/power-management/switching-mode-power-supply/step-down-buck-regulator-converter-basics.php