Testing Boost Converters: Selecting the Best for My Application

I recently tested three different DC-DC boost converters to find the best one for my application, where I need to step up a 3.6V Li-ion battery to 12V while drawing around 100mA. I’ll share my testing results in this post, hoping they might be useful for others selecting a boost converter.

Objectives

Input Voltage: 3.6V (Li-ion battery)
Output Voltage: 12V
Expected Load Current: ~100mA

Hardware Tested

Testing Setup

I used Arduino Uno and Arduino Mega as my expected current load:

Arduino Uno draws ~40–45mA
Arduino Mega draws ~70–75mA

Each converter was tested by measuring the input current, input voltage, output voltage, and performance stability.

Results

1. MT3608 DC-DC Boost Module

Arduino Uno:
- Current Drawn: 160mA
- Input Voltage: 3.6V → Output Voltage: 12.48V
Arduino Mega:
- Current Drawn: 290mA
- Input Voltage: 3.6V → Output Voltage: 12.48V

2. XL6019 DC-DC Boost Module

Arduino Uno:
- Current Drawn: 220mA
- Input Voltage: 3.6V → Output Voltage: 12.54V
Arduino Mega:
- Current Drawn: 340mA
- Input Voltage: 3.6V → Output Voltage: 12.55V

3. Mini DC-DC Boost Module (3.7V to 12V)

Arduino Uno:
- Current Drawn: 170mA
- Input Voltage: 3.6V → Output Voltage: 12.11V
Arduino Mega:
- Current Drawn: 280mA
- Input Voltage: 3.6V → Output Voltage: 12.11V

Discussion & Conclusion

Mini DC-DC Boost Module performed well for small loads (<80mA) but showed voltage drop issues when the current exceeded 100mA.
MT3608 had a more stable voltage at 12V and lower current draw than XL6019.
XL6019 required higher input current to maintain 12V, making it less efficient than MT3608.

📌 Final Choice: MT3608 – It offers better efficiency and maintains a stable 12V output for loads exceeding 100mA.