DC-DC converters are power electronic converters which convert a fixed DC voltage to a variable DC voltage.
Buck, Boost and buck-boost converters are the three basic dc-dc converters which converts a fixed dc voltage to a variable dc voltage. Each of the converters has same number of components however, the position of the components changes in each configuration. Each converter has its own advantage and disadvantage. Based on our output requirement, available input supply and application, a particular type of converter can be chosen. In this article, we will compare the features of three converters.
Buck converter is a type of DC-DC converter which produces a DC output voltage less than the input DC voltage. Hence a buck converter is also called as step-down converter.
Boost converter is a type of DC-DC converter which produces a DC output voltage greater than the input DC voltage. Hence a boost converter is also called as step-up converter.
Buck-Boost converter is a DC-DC converter which produces a DC output voltage greater than or less than the input DC voltage.
So depending upon the requirement, a particular converter can be used.
Power Electronics. Converters, Applications and Design (Ned Mohan, Tore M. Undeland, William P. Robbins), John Wiley and Sons, Inc, 2003.
Fundamentals of power electronics,(Robert Warren Erickson, Dragan Maksimović), Springer, 2001.
Read Electric Vehicle 