The SSDV3 is an independently-made, non-isolated DC/DC converter designed for unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The module is intended for converting 50V battery input down to 5-12V output at a maximum load of 8A. It acts as a reliable battery-eliminator circuit (BEC) through effective regulation in the presence of large line voltage and load current transients.
This design is motivated by the challenges encountered by the UBCO Aerospace Club with their Jellyfish quadcopter when powering auxiliary electronics off the drone's main battery. Lessons were learned through a variety of integration failures, investigations, and validation testing, and these experiences informed the development of version 3 of the Super Step Down series.
Improvements from the previous version:
- Dramatically improved regulation during line and load transients
- Considerable footprint area reduction by 16.5%
- Configurable output voltages instead of a fixed 5V output
- Added ESD protection on inputs
- Features reverse polarity protection
- Uses direct solder pads instead of terminal block for output connection
| Input Voltage | 20-60V |
| Max Transient Voltage | 100V (clamping starts at 70V) |
| Output Voltage(s) | 5.1V, 7.4V, 9.6V, 12V |
| Max Output Current* | 8A |
| Typical Efficiency | 88% |
| Est. Voltage Overshoot | 200mV |
Voltage ripple at 5.1V Output
Transient response of 5.1V 5-0A Output
Efficiency Measurements
Copyright © Julian Joaquin 2026
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Hardware Source Licensed under CERN-OHL-W version 2
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