Hardware Review: Intelligent DC-DC converter with USB interface

**Jensen2000** · 11-10-2009, 08:47 AM

I was looking for an alternative to power my brand new Zotac A-U board. Mp3car.com gladly sent me the device in exchange for a review. so here it is.

The device: The Intelligent DC-DC converter with USB interface by mini-box.com is a buck/boost converter/regulator that can be used for a wide variety of application, it can be used to power any device that needs 6-24VDC, and the input range can be anything from 6VDC to 34VDC. The device can also send ON/OFF signals to motherboards based on IGN or ACC voltages.

See this product on the mp3Car Store HERE.

The box: UPS brought me a box that weight a little more than air itself, i was wondering if there is actually anything inside. before filing the claim that somebody stole the device out of the box i decided to open it anyway (; there it was, a small green board with a few short cables and a little bag with a few tiny jumpers. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and test the &*%$ out of it, but to my surprise there was no manual, no CD, no USB cable. i found a very basic manual on the mini-box.com site and the journey began.

The work: Without the availability of the USB cable and lack of software, i went ahead configuring the device to my needs with a basic manual and a few jumpers. I need 19VDC to power my Zotac A-U mobo, the device CAN produce this voltage but with the USB software, i set the device to output the nearest voltage that can be set with jumpers which is 18VDC, the multimeter shows 18.24VDC i then set the device to operate as a regular converter/inverter and connected it to my mobo. pushed the power button, the fan started to spin, and the mobo seems to run just fine. +/-1VDC inst crucial for this mobo. i then tested the output voltage range of this device and the device does what it is suppose to do. no matter of the input (as long as its within range) the output voltage will be what it is set to be. then i set it to automotive mode which adds timing options along with ON/OFF pulses to the mobo. i set the timing to send off pulse to the mobo as soon as ACC is off and completely turn off the device after a minute - it did just that. my Zotac now powers on and off automatically. because of the wide input range the device has absolutely no problems surviving engine crank. however once the device starts the timer, it cannot be interrupted, meaning that if i shut off ACC the timer will start and will count a minute, in this time frame if i turn the ACC back on the device will not power up the mobo, nor send on/off signals. but if i leave the ACC on until the timer finished it will power up the board and send ON signal. temperature wise this device does just well, it get a bit warm when powered for a long time, but absolutely nothing to worry about and nothing that will require additional cooling. in my setup the device does exactly what it is described to do.

The good: The device can be used for a wide variety of applications, it is very accurate, small profile, easy to setup,survives engine crank, appears to be reliable (i used it a few days already and it powers up and shuts down every time without problems) and the price is right.

The bad: I am not sure how it is shipped from mini-box.com but the device should most defiantly come with advanced documentation or at least some documentation. even though most of us SHOULD have the proper USB cabe, it should be included in the package, the configuration software should also come with the device or at least be available for easy download. otherwise more configuration options should be available on the device itself. mini-box.com use jumpers that are smaller then the regular computer jumpers, i don't see a reason for this, should just use regular jumpers.

The truth: All in all the device is great, does what you configure it to do and does it well. for this price ($59+shipping) you cant go wrong with it. though with more documentation, software and USB cable the package would be complete.

The rest: (from mini-box.com) - Applications: powering motherboard with single rail power from any voltage to any voltage, laptops, custom electronics. This module can be used to convert any voltage ranging 6-34V to any output from 5-24V. The DCDC-USB has 4 models of operation: - Dumb mode: Acts as a regular DC-DC converter with wide input (6-34V) and produces a fixed 12V output (or any output from 6-24V) - Automotive mode: Acts as an intelligent PSU, ignition aware, will send ON/OFF pulse to the motherboard to turn ON/OFF. Standby power consumption is well under 1mA. - UPS mode: The unit will act as an intelligent UPS unit, will shut down at prescribed battery voltages. - Script mode: Unit can be programmed to wake up, sleep, based on pre-programmed scripts. Additional features of DCDC-USB: - Remote ON/OFF switch capable of switching up to 6A, 8A peak. - Can control motherboard ON/OFF pins - Fused input, TVS protected - USB mini, type B - All Solid Polymer Capacitors, SVPD series, Sanyo, Japan.

See this product on the mp3Car Store HERE.

**RipplingHurst** · 11-11-2009, 12:47 PM

What I'd like to see is a PSU that sends a sleep signal to the MB, and also when needed a power off signal. This would take advantage of hybrid sleep present in Vista/ Windows 7. Going to sleep with acc off could keep the pc on for hours (you'd just need power to the RAM modules), and ABSOLUTELY instant on when you return and the IGN is on again.

You could set the bios to sleep in the signal is received and power off only if the signal lasts longer than 4sec. But most PSUs can't be programmed to do that, and this is the case with this one, right? I had hopes that the USB control could offer that option.

**Punky** · 11-11-2009, 01:18 PM

I too would love the option to have the psu keep the 5V rail on.
However there's a way around this, by using a laptop and hack up the power switch then u can keep the 5V rail off of the laptop battery.

**sergatiuk** · 11-11-2009, 01:21 PM

i see what u mean, however you can take adventage of the hybrid sleep with this device, in windows you turn on the hybrid sleep feature, then set windows to sleep when the power button is pressed. you then set the timing on the device to keep power going to you machine for a min, 30 mins or as long as you want. with the USB you should also be able to set the input voltage at which the device should completely cut power, for example your computer can sleep until your battery reaches 9VDC, then cut the power to the PC, in hybrid sleep state the PC will hibernate and you would still have enough juice to start your car...
personally i just hibernate, keeps things simpler and more reliable ?!

**Punky** · 11-11-2009, 01:32 PM

i wonder how long u can keep the the timer running using the usb interface.
with the jumpers you probably can set maximum up to a few hours, but my system stay powered over days.

**trader007** · 11-11-2009, 01:33 PM

say you wanted to use this as a dc-dc converter for a 5v output. how many amps would be available?

**Curiosity** · 11-11-2009, 02:34 PM

I've had one of these for a while but haven't had the chance to install it yet. Let's see the max output is 100 watts (limited by 10A input fuse). Everything in the docs are rated at 12V, and says 8A at normal input volts.

It has a lot of features that are undocumented as of yet like the scripting, but they can probably provide that.

There are lots of programmable timers that can go up to possibly 99:99:99. Wait timer, VOut timer, Off Delay Timer, Vaux timer, Powerswitch timer, Hardoff timer. I think it detects current to switch off so it's probably going to work for sleep mode, but I wouldn't expect it to pulse the power botton when ACC goes back on and it thinks the PC is still on. That would require an additional wake circuit of some kind.

One thing I don't like is that software programming isn't saved if there's no power, including vout.
Edit: Nevermind! New software revision fixed it.

And one thing to note: USB only works if it's in dumb mode if there's no power because it's in low power mode if it's configured any other way, which makes sense, but it's a good thing to know.

**Punky** · 11-11-2009, 03:07 PM

if its quite flexible in the programming through the usb, then it has potential to be a very popular psu.

**RipplingHurst** · 11-11-2009, 03:19 PM

Hibernating still has that bios thing...The sleep feature is very addictive. My office computer stays on sleep mode all the time, it only reboots for those every time more frequent windows updates restarts. It makes your computer goes instant on, makes it look like your HP12C or something. Very addictive. If a carPC could behave like it would a dream.

**sergatiuk** · 11-11-2009, 03:19 PM

here is the advanced USB configuration manual.
http://resources.mini-box.com/online...ion-manual.pdf
it better explains the USB programming option.
and yes i do believe this device will get more popularity as we have more motherboards emerging that do not require itx psu and are rather single voltage DC input.
besides that because of the high voltage range, this PSU can power virtually any DC device.