I have been looking into power supply circuits for powering ESP32 and ESP32-CAM, different techniques, circuit diagrams etc. I was interested in 5V output to power esp32-cam, because I have heard that it is better to power esp32-cam with 5V rather than 3.3V. I wrote about a design solution for this setup in my previous note 5V power supply design for esp32-cam using MT3608 boost converter and TP4056 lithium ion battery charger module. The picture below shows TP4056 li ion battery charging circuit.
The following is circuit diagram of powering esp32-cam module using TP4056 and MT3608.
Here Iwanted to record alternatives to the boost converter module MT3608. Here is what I found out.
The best DIY boost converter for a 5V output depends on your requirements like input voltage range, output current, efficiency, size, and ease of implementation. Here's a breakdown of top DIY-friendly boost converter ICs/modules for 5V output:
✅ 1. MT3608
- Input Voltage: 2V–24V
- Output Voltage: Up to 28V (adjustable)
- Output Current: Up to 2A (typical ~1A stable)
- Efficiency: ~80–90%
- Features: Inexpensive, widely available, comes in easy-to-use modules
- Best for: 3.7V (Li-ion) to 5V boost
- Module Available: Yes (cheap on Amazon/AliExpress)
🔧 Why it's great: Simple, reliable, and very common for small Li-ion to 5V USB applications (like powering ESP32-CAM, Arduino Nano, etc.).
✅ 2. TPS61022 (Texas Instruments)
- Input Voltage: 0.5V–5.5V
- Output Voltage: Fixed or adjustable (can set to 5V)
- Output Current: Up to 2A continuous
- Efficiency: Up to 95%
- Features: High efficiency at low voltage, good for battery-operated devices
- Best for: Low-voltage battery (e.g., 1-cell or 2-cell AA or Li-ion) to 5V output
🔧 Why it's great: Excellent for critical battery-powered projects where efficiency and battery life matter.
✅ 3. XL6009
- Input Voltage: 3V–32V
- Output Voltage: Adjustable up to 35V
- Output Current: Up to 3A
- Efficiency: ~85%
- Best for: Higher current 5V output needs
- Module Available: Yes, easy to find
🔧 Why it's great: Higher current support than MT3608, but a bit bulkier and less efficient at low load.
✅ 4. MCP1640 (Microchip)
- Input Voltage: 0.35V–5.5V
- Output Voltage: Adjustable or fixed 5V
- Output Current: ~0.35–0.5A
- Best for: Very low voltage sources (e.g., single AA/AAA cell)
- Efficiency: Up to 96%
🔧 Why it's great: Excellent ultra-low-voltage startup (down to ~0.8V input).
✅ 5. DIY with Discrete Components (Not Recommended for Most Cases)
- Using transistors, inductors, and diodes to build a Joule Thief-style converter can give 5V, but it’s:
- Low efficiency
- Hard to regulate voltage precisely
- Not stable or safe for logic circuits
🔧 Why it’s NOT ideal: More for learning than for reliable performance.
🏆 Best Overall Pick (For General Use): MT3608 Module
- Why: Inexpensive, easy to use, and perfect for boosting a single 3.7V Li-ion to 5V.
- Use case: Powering ESP32/ESP8266, Arduino boards, small USB devices
