MT3608 Boost Converter Module
Adjustable step-up converter for boosting low battery voltages to component requirements.
An adjustable boost (step-up) converter used to raise a low battery voltage up to the level a project's components require. Built around the MT3608 DC-DC boost IC, this small module takes an input as low as ~2V and steps it up to a user-set output (commonly configured for 5V, 9V, or 12V via an onboard trimmer potentiometer), making it a common choice for powering 5V logic or displays from a single LiPo/Li-ion cell, or boosting a couple of AA batteries up to a usable project voltage.
Specifications
| Converter type | MT3608 adjustable DC-DC boost (step-up) converter |
| Input voltage | 2V–24V DC (practical minimum ~2V for reliable startup) |
| Output voltage | Adjustable up to ~28V DC via onboard trimmer potentiometer |
| Output current | Up to ~2A typical (lower at higher step-up ratios; check datasheet curve for your specific input/output combination) |
| Switching frequency | ~1.2 MHz |
| Efficiency | Up to ~93% typical, varies with input/output ratio and load |
| Adjustment | Small onboard blue trimmer potentiometer sets output voltage — measure output with a multimeter while adjusting, with no load or a light load connected |
Pinout
| Pin | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IN+ | Positive voltage input from battery/power source |
| 2 | IN- | Negative input / ground |
| 3 | OUT+ | Positive regulated boosted output |
| 4 | OUT- | Negative output / ground (shared with IN-) |
Always set the output voltage with the trimmer potentiometer before connecting your actual load — power the module, measure OUT+/OUT- with a multimeter, and adjust the trimmer until it reads the target voltage, since these boards ship at an arbitrary factory-set voltage that is rarely what you need. Boost converters cannot reduce voltage below the input, so if your source voltage is already higher than what you need, use a buck (step-down) converter like the LM2596 instead.
Variants
Reach for the MT3608 whenever you need to raise a lower voltage (like a single 3.7V LiPo cell) up to a higher target voltage. If your input is already higher than the voltage you need, you actually want a buck converter like the LM2596 instead — boost and buck converters are not interchangeable.
| Variant | Temp range | Hum range | Accuracy | Protocol | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MT3608 boost module | ~$1-3 | ||||
| LM2596 (buck/step-down) | ~$1-3 | ||||
| USB boost converter module (fixed 5V) | ~$1-3 |