How to Choose a Voltage Reducer for Automotive Electronics?

Picture this: You are on a cross-country road trip and your dash cam stops working. Sadly, you are no longer able to capture beautiful scenic views or record unsual incidents for posterity. And if your GPS stops working when you are approaching a point where you will need to take a detour, you will surely loose your sense of humor. The dash cam and GPS devices probably didn't fail, but are likely not working because of a failing battery. A fluctuating battery may spike or drop and fail to provide the proper voltage, especially when the engine is on or off. In case of such automotive electronics, (like a dash cam, phone charger or navigation system,) a voltage reducer is a necessary addition. It will ensure a stable output, which your device needs. The number of voltage reducers available in the market is uncountable, and so is the amount of conflicting information. We will try to break it down to simple, practical steps with tips from trusted power solution brands like szwengao.

Know Your Automotive Electronic Device's Needs and Requirements.

Analyzing the specific needs of your devices is the most important step to take before shopping for a voltage reducer. Costs will not be the only concern if you fail to get the specs right. In most cases, a wrong spec streamlined approach will either render your device useless, or result in complete and total destruction.

First, check how much input voltage your device requires. You can check this on your device's user manual or on its label. Usually, you will see input voltages such as "5V DC, 2A" or "12V DC, 1A" etc. For instance, small USB car chargers for phones need 5V, while larger devices like rear-seat entertainment systems require 12V. From this number, you can tell what output voltage the voltage reducer will need to provide. This should match what your device requires for input voltage.

Now, check the current requirement (the "A" number). If your device needs 2A, a reducer that puts out only 1A will not be able to fully power the device, leading to slow performance or even frequent shutdowns. Szwegano has more than  500 different product models which includes Buck DC-DC Converters that are intended for this purpose. These all reduce voltage and come in various current ratings to suit different devices which you will find listed as low power GPS (1A) or high demand dash cams with night vision (3A or more).

Always take into account the amount of devices to be powered simultaneously. In the case where both a tire pressure monitor and a dash cam will be used at the same time, the total current needs to be determined, and a compatible voltage reducer must be used accordingly. With szwengao, there is no need to buy cut multiple reducers as there are models that can handle multiple outputs at the same time, or can handle combined loads at their rated outputs.

Focus on Core Performance for Reliable Power

A Voltage Reducer for Automotive Electronics is not clarified as simply "lowering voltage." It must be done reliably, consistently, and safely. It is important to monitor the voltage reducer performance on the following:

Efficiency: Voltage Reducers and Your Car Battery

A voltage reducer that is inefficient wastes energy as heat, and will drain the car battery quickly, especially if the devices are on without the engine running, or are left on while the engine is off. The more efficient the voltage reducer, the better, with a goal of efficiency over 90%. szwengao's automotive-grade energy efficient Buck DC-DC Converters are designed to power all devices without wasting energy, resulting in no unnecessary strain on the car battery, irrespective of the distance traveled or the time during which the car is idle.

Ensuring Stability to Avoid Glitches

It can be very frustrating when a device freezes because of a sudden voltage drop. Voltage reducers should contain voltage drop variations when a car battery is being used. An engine being cranked results in short dips of fluctuating car battery voltage. For this reason, Szwenago employs Precision Voltage Regulation Technology, as is used in their industry-standard power solutions, to eliminate voltage inconsistencies. This technology enables their clients in power sensitive industries, including telecommunications and automotive, to use their products with confidence.

Inbuilt Safety Features to Protect Everything

Automotive environments can be unpredictable, and so a voltage reducer must have carefully designed built-in safety features. Szwenago has designed their automotive reducers with over-voltage (> shut down if car battery voltage becomes too high), short-circuit (> it closes in on itself if wires touch), and over-temperature (> voltage reducer cannot get too hot) protections. It is also understood that faulty reducers can damage not only the car's electronics, but also its entral electrical system. This is designed to industrial standards, robust so those protections don't fail when most needed.

Focus on durability

For vehicles, rough conditions are the norm. Think about it: extreme temperatures (from freezing conditions to intensively hot engine compartments), continual shifting (from rough and dirty roads), and infrequent moisture (from rain or washes). Sure, you could use a cheap reducer, but it would only be a matter of time before it fails.

Moisture is one of the biggest killers in automotive electronics. Lots of szwengao's automotive electronic voltage reducer (often the case with others) is waterproof (most of the time, bordering IP65 standards), so it can manage light rain or a spilled drink with no risk of shorting. This is a huge plus when you consider the reducer is likely to be mounted under the dashboard or in the trunk.

Under the hood, instrument panels, and in the passenger compartment can exceed 100°C. Most of the time szwengao will use high temp materials in the automotive electronics voltage reducer (like the PET 105°C components mentioned in the product specs). This allows the devices to retain functionality in extreme conditions. Also, casings and components that are designed with vibration resistance in mind are used so that extreme conditions such as rough protest movement on dirt roads are withstood without loosening solder joints or damaging sensitive circuits.

You get a sense of how durable a reducer is just by handling it--- lighter and flimsier ones are likely to be cheaper, while good ones feel solid and thick. Szewangao reducers are built to industrial standards. This means they are made with stronger metals, better wirings, and tighter seals. It is causing their products to be used in automobiles, as well as in less demanding industrial and marine equipment.

The Importance of Brand Reliability

Not all brands are built the same. A no-name brand may be cheaper, but the dismantled reducers leave you with no support. This means you will have to spend the money all over again. Here is why brands are important:

Brand Value

With over 15 years of R&D experience in power solutions, Szewangao is able to solve real life market challenges like making reducers work in painfully -40 degree winters and 85 degree summers. They don't just copy cat, but innovate. For instance, their Buck-Boost DC-DC Converters (which can both raise and lower voltage) were created to accommodate the crazy voltage swings in older cars, a problem many of the new brands have not figured out yet.

Worldwide Trust and Reputation

When a brand is available in more than 130 countries, it is a brand you can trust. szwengao's products are sold globally, and they work with big clients like Apple, AT&T, and Cummins. These organizations don't work with brands that provide poor quality. They choose brands that provide quality and reliability. If szwengao's power solutions work with industrial giants, they will work with your car's electronics power solutions too.

Quick Post-Sales Support

What if your reducer fails in the middle of a road trip? You need a brand that can help you repair it. szwengao provides quick support solutions, whether it is troubleshooting your system or sending a replacement part. They have a global network of support, so no matter which country you are in, you are not going to be left waiting for weeks. Support like that is needed when your automotive electronics are something you rely on every day.