How did this even get through QA? (Chinese boost converter)

[bd139]

Decided to order a bunch of stuff from China just to see if it will indeed handle the outlandlish claims that are made on the auction bodies.

Item number one arrived today, which is a little boost converter. Supposedly if I chuck in 5V @ 1A, it'll kick out 12V @ 370mA out switching around 1MHz. That's a respectable estimate compared to some. I've seen things like this advertising 5A out 

Well it would if the output filter was actually attached at one end:



Only one side is actually a good solder joint. The other end, not pictured is floating. 

[Kilo Tango]

and that cap next to the connector has been knocked over physically breaking both joints
Maybe chinese don't actually test stuff, they just build it and ship it.

Ken

[Specmaster]

Nope, thats just a "floating" output. 

[retrolefty]

Well how does it work after you repaired it?

[bd139]

Repaired (badly) and tested. It's quite decent. Looks like it passed because the cap was on the input side of things. It's a 10uF MLCC for ref. I measured it out of circuit.

I think it had lifted before the solder had returned to solid and it was just tombstoned there. Joint wasn't actually broken

I can pull 6W out of it (500mA at 12V) for 8W in whilst blasting the shit out of it with a hairdryer. Still going strong even if the breadboard is melting (I used a crap one just for this test).

Tentacle monster testing it:



Output:



Not bad for under £1.