Step Down Convertor

Other Hardware General Electronics
1

So I recently bought a few of THESE DC - DC step down convertors.

I just hooked the "IN" pads up to a power supply, applied 12 volts, then measured the "OUT" pads with a multi-meter.

The meter read 11.3 volts.

I figured turning the small gold screw would allow me to adjust the output voltage to the 5 volts I desired. I turned the screw and watched the multi-meter... nothing happened. I then thought... hmmm maybe I've got a bad one. Luckily I bought four.

I tested another one... the exact same thing happened. I then thought, maybe my brain works backwards or the board is mislabeled. In other words, maybe IN means OUT and OUT means IN. So I switched the power supply and multi-meter attachments. Still nothing happened when I turned the gold adjustment screw...

I'm a real beginner when it comes to electronics, but I feel like this should be common sense? What am I missing here?

Thanks,
Chase

2

That is a 10 turn potentiometer.
While looking at the output with a DVM, turn the screw 10 full turns in one direction then ten turns in the other direction.
Do not attach your final circuit to the output until you have set the proper voltage out!

3

Thanks Larry,

Got it to work but only after about 30 turns. Then it follows the ten turn interval like you mentioned.

Not sure how that's possible looking at the inside of one of these things

...But o well, glad to know I wasn't completely lost. Simply didn't give it enough turns.

As far as not hooking it up to the circuit... no worries there, circuit not even built yet :wink: