Mounting USB port on Buck/Boost converter

Other Miscellaneous
1

Hello,

My son is building solar powered mobile charger as a project. I came across ‘SparkFun Buck/Boost converter COM-15208’ which serves his purpose. However can I mount a USB port on it? Its output is going to be fed to cellphone USB.

Are there any other alternatives if the USB cannot be mounted?

Thanks,

-Shailesh

2

Hello Shailesh.

Our [USB Type A Female Breakout would work on this. We also have a [USB type C version now. Either would allow you to plug in a cellphone to the Buck/Boost board.

You just need the power pins and none of the data pins on either board.](SparkFun USB-C Breakout - Horizontal - BOB-15100 - SparkFun Electronics)](SparkFun USB Type A Female Breakout - BOB-12700 - SparkFun Electronics)

3

Thank you Chris. One last question : I didn’t quite get your last statement. I believe it is just one board (buck and boost combined into one), is it not? Also do I need to do anything at my end except not use data pins?

-Shailesh

4

Hi Shailesh.

I believe it is just one board (buck and boost combined into one)

Yes, that's correct. The board boots or reduces the input voltage to make the selected output voltage.

Also do I need to do anything at my end except not use data pins?

All you should need to do is connect the output from the Buck-Boost to the VCC (or VBUS) and GND pins on the USB connectors. All the other pins on the USB connectors can be left disconnected.