On Fri, Sep 21, 2018 at 1:38 PM, Noel Chiappa via cctalk < cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> My understanding is that, without using a transformer (which creates an > independent circuit loop - more below), there's no way to increase the > _amperage_ out of circuit over what's fed into it: since amps are > electrons/second, the electrons/second out more or less have to equal > electrons/second in, since one can't easily 'create' electrons - at least, > in > normal electonic gear! > No, a switching buck converter can definitely have more current out than in. In fact, that's common. The buck regulator on your PC board may supply 100A at around 1V to your CPU, but doesn't draw anywhere near that many amps from its 12V input. Although it works differently than a stepdown transformer, it does the same job, converting power at a higher voltage but lower current to a lower voltage at a higher current.
