A buck and boost didactic plant with electro-mechanical selection of the operation mode

This paper presents the design of a simple and useful prototype plant to do experimental tests about DC-DC buck and boost converters for educative purposes, without needing manual reconnections, reducing considerably the implementation of the didactic setup and risks of electrical accidents. The circuit controls uses DPDT relays which makes an internal reconnection of the prototype´s components, changing from buck to boost operation mode and vice versa. The relays have been connected in order to use one MOSFET for buck or boost configuration, reducing the cost of the power circuits, by the reduction of power transistors and opto-drivers. Simulation and experimental results shows the simplicity and utility of this didactic prototype.