Advice Needed: Selecting a Buck Converter for 19-24V to 12V @ 5A (MP2329C vs. MP4436)

DC-DC Power Converters
1

Hi everyone,

I am relatively new to using MPS products and could use some guidance from the community on selecting the right buck converter IC for my current design.

My system requirements are:

Input Voltage (Vin): 19V to 24V (max)

Output Voltage (Vout): 12V

Output Current (Iout): 5A (continuous)

I currently have two options in mind, but I would appreciate some expert input regarding their thermal and operational limits:

  1. MP2329C
    I noticed in the datasheet that the recommended output voltage range is 0.6V to 13V. Given that my target is 12V at a continuous 5A, I am wondering if this IC can handle this load safely and continuously. Will it struggle with thermal dissipation at this operating point?

  2. MP4436
    My second option is the MP4436. Is this IC capable of sustaining a 5A continuous load under my Vin/Vout conditions? I am strongly considering this alternative because, if a single IC cannot handle the current/thermal requirements safely, I am open to using a dual-phase configuration to share the load and boost the overall capability.

General Concern on High Vout Applications
Part of my hesitation comes from looking at the typical application notes. Most examples highlight 3.3V or 5V outputs, and I rarely see 12V output applications for these specific chips. I suspect this might be due to thermal constraints caused by the integrated MOSFETs and the extremely compact package sizes.

Are either of these ICs suitable for a 12V/5A continuous application, or is there a different MPS part you would recommend instead?

Thank you in advance for your time and insights!

2

Hello,

Thanks for providing all the basic input and output characteristics. I can understand your hesitation given what you mentioned about the ICs you mentioned being characterized at 3.3V and 5V. These are common voltages for the application of ICs like this.

Since you are operating at a 5A load at12V, I would suggest the following alternatives that would yield better thermals and therefore efficiency:

MP4317 | 45V, 7A, Low IQ, Synchronous Step-Down Converter with Frequency Spread Spectrum | MPS (7A max continuous for better efficiency and thermals operating at 5A continuous, capable of Vout = 12V given Vin = 19V - 24V)

MP8886 | 45V Input, Dual 3A/Single 6A Output, Digital, Configurable, Synchronous Buck Converter | MPS (Higher voltage input up to 45V for headroom, suggested to use dual phase 6A single output, characterized efficiency at Vout = 12V, see grey on efficiency curve below)

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Best,

Krishan