DC-DC Converters are circuits designed to match loads to the power sources available. Generally, they accept power input at one voltage and supply one or more loads requiring power at different voltage levels. This description of converters is necessarily vague because of the extremely wide range of applications these circuits are used in.

Using Zetex E-Line devices, DC-DC converters up to 10W output can be easily made using a single switching transistor, even when supplying “difficult” loads. More typical loads will allow higher outputs to be achieved.

Capacitor charging is a common application for DC-DC converters. This type of converter appears in flash guns, ignition units, etc. Capacitors are awkward components to charge efficiently because the voltage across them varies greatly during the charging cycle (0 to 400V in a typical flash gun). Flyback converters are particularly suited to this task since they isolate the characteristics of the load from the converter switching element.

Read more: http://www.zetex.com/3.0/appnotes/apps/an7.pdf
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