The TPS63020 is a buck-boost converter: it takes 1.8 to 5.5 V in and gives an adjustable 1.2 to 5.5 V out, so a single lithium cell can hold a steady 3.3 V or 5 V as it discharges from 4.2 V to under 3 V. It supplies 2 A at 3.3 V when the input is above 2.5 V and uses 4 A switches. That is the usual fix for a robot whose ESP32 resets when the battery sags under motor load. Figures are from the Texas Instruments TPS6302x datasheet SLVS916I.
Key specifications
| Input | 1.8–5.5 V |
|---|---|
| Output | adjustable 1.2–5.5 V |
| Current | 2 A at 3.3 V (VIN > 2.5 V) |
| Switch limit | 4 A typ |
| Quiescent | 25 µA |
| Switching | 2.4 MHz |
What the datasheet promises
| Item | Datasheet value |
|---|---|
| Input voltage | 1.8 to 5.5 V |
| Output voltage | Adjustable 1.2 to 5.5 V (TPS63020); fixed internally on the TPS63021 |
| Output current | 2 A at 3.3 V out with input above 2.5 V; up to 3 A supported |
| Switch current limit | 4 A typical |
| Quiescent current | 25 µA operating |
| Switching | Fixed 2.4 MHz, with a power-save mode at light load |
| Modes | Automatic transition between buck and boost |
| Protection | Overtemperature and overvoltage; load disconnect during shutdown |
| Extras | Power-good output, optional synchronisation |
| Temperature | −40 °C to 85 °C |
| Package | 14-pin VSON, 3 mm × 4 mm |
The datasheet says the input can be a one-cell lithium battery, two or three alkaline or NiMH cells, or a supercapacitor, and that batteries can be discharged below 2 V. Output current is a function of input voltage, so read the output-current-versus-input graph for your pack instead of assuming 2 A at all times.
Using it on a robot
- Set the output with the resistor divider from the datasheet, and check it with a meter before connecting the board.
- Keep the input and output capacitors and the inductor close to the pins; the 2.4 MHz switching is sensitive to layout.
- The input limit is 5.5 V, so it suits a single cell or USB, not a 2S pack; for higher inputs use a buck converter such as the LM2596.
- Feed the motors from the battery through a motor driver, and the logic through this converter, so motor current spikes do not pull the logic rail down.
Sources and further reading
- Texas Instruments TPS6302x datasheet (SLVS916I) — every figure in the table above.
Last reviewed: November 2026. Limits are from the Texas Instruments datasheet for the chip; breakout modules vary. No price is quoted because it has not been checked.
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