Here explains advantages and disadvantages of DC/DC converter.
●Advantages
The advantages of DC/DC converter are
・ High efficiency
・ Current loss is small and heat generation is small (heat radiation countermeasure parts are simplified)
・Wide range of power configurations is available (step-down / step-up / inverting / step-up and down)
Especially compared to linear type voltage regulator, the efficiency is very high and the DC/DC converter is optimum for application in which battery's operating time needs to be extended.
In addition, the efficiency is high and the loss is small, so the heat generation caused by IC is small and measures against heat generation can be simplified or reduced.
Unlike the linear type voltage regulator that can just step-down the voltage, the power supply such as step-up, inverting, step-up and down etc. other than step-down can be created.
●Disadvantages
The disadvantages of DC/DC converter are
・Occurrence of switching noise
・Large number of parts and high cost
・Characteristics may not be as designed depending on peripheral parts and PCB layout
because DC/DC converter is switching type.
As the DC/DC converter performs switching operation, switching noise occurs in principle. IC may malfunction or it may be necessary to add noise countermeasure parts / filter may due to this switching noise.
For applications where switching noise is a concern, a linear type voltage regulator is liked and used.