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5

$begingroup$

I just read about buck converters and boost converters and buck/boost converters. Great stuff.

But, why is a step-down converter called a buck converter?

I tried to research this myself. According to Google Book search, the phrase buck-boost transformer was in use at least as early at 1891 in a periodical called Architectural Review.

etymology

share|improve this question

asked 8 hours ago

daveloyalldaveloyall

12933 bronze badges

New contributor

daveloyall is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  I suspect the term as applied in electric systems may have been created originally for transformers -- more specifically for autotransformers -- and relates to an idea that was commonly known back in the day. Logs were bucked (either under- or over- bucked) depending on from which end of the log sections were cut for milling. (Starting at the thicker base and working up or starting at the top and working down.) A bucking transformer can be seen as doing just that. And I suspect that's where the first author of the term got the idea since logging was a commonly shared experience in the 1800s.
  $endgroup$
  – jonk
  6 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

5

$begingroup$

I just read about buck converters and boost converters and buck/boost converters. Great stuff.

But, why is a step-down converter called a buck converter?

I tried to research this myself. According to Google Book search, the phrase buck-boost transformer was in use at least as early at 1891 in a periodical called Architectural Review.

etymology

share|improve this question

asked 8 hours ago

daveloyalldaveloyall

12933 bronze badges

New contributor

daveloyall is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  I suspect the term as applied in electric systems may have been created originally for transformers -- more specifically for autotransformers -- and relates to an idea that was commonly known back in the day. Logs were bucked (either under- or over- bucked) depending on from which end of the log sections were cut for milling. (Starting at the thicker base and working up or starting at the top and working down.) A bucking transformer can be seen as doing just that. And I suspect that's where the first author of the term got the idea since logging was a commonly shared experience in the 1800s.
  $endgroup$
  – jonk
  6 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

I just read about buck converters and boost converters and buck/boost converters. Great stuff.

But, why is a step-down converter called a buck converter?

I tried to research this myself. According to Google Book search, the phrase buck-boost transformer was in use at least as early at 1891 in a periodical called Architectural Review.

etymology

share|improve this question

asked 8 hours ago

daveloyalldaveloyall

12933 bronze badges

New contributor

daveloyall is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

$endgroup$

share|improve this question

asked 8 hours ago

daveloyalldaveloyall

12933 bronze badges

New contributor

daveloyall is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

asked 8 hours ago

daveloyalldaveloyall

12933 bronze badges

New contributor

daveloyall is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked 8 hours ago

daveloyalldaveloyall

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asked 8 hours ago

daveloyalldaveloyall

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2 Answers
2

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7

$begingroup$

It's the same sense as to "buck" a trend:

1. to oppose or resist (something that seems oppressive or inevitable).
   "the shares bucked the market trend"
   synonyms: resist, oppose, contradict, defy, fight (against), go against, kick against
   "it takes guts to buck the system"

So you're "bucking" the input voltage to reduce the output voltage.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

John DJohn D

13.2k11 gold badge2222 silver badges3232 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Which is more applicable to transformers than to regulators, but the idea of "bucking" as "reducing voltage" probably came from transformer usage, and got transferred to regulator usage.
  $endgroup$
  – TimWescott
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Buck regulators use an inductor which opposes the current flow when the switch opens. So it's just as valid as the transformer use.
  $endgroup$
  – gbarry
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

0

$begingroup$

I may be wrong(apparently there is no way to qualify any answer here as correct), but I had always assumed that "buck" referred to an action similar to a "bucking bronco or bull". A buck converter sends a voltage pulse only as often as it needs to in order to provide the rectified and filtered DC output required, just as a "bucking bronco or bull" will "buck" as often as he feels he needs to in order to eject the rider or loosen the strap.

share|improve this answer

answered 4 hours ago

HitekHitek

29555 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Please, no downvotes because you dislike rodeos. Even though I understand where you may be coming from, it is a very plausible answer...
  $endgroup$
  – Hitek
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  (No one is downvoting?) I honestly thought it had to do with animals as well when I first heard the term but I knew that it probably wasn't correct. The verb "buck" could mean to be resistant against something. I think there could be a way to qualify an answer and that's looking it up in the dictionary :)
  $endgroup$
  – KingDuken
  3 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @KingDuken - I know, but right after I posted the answer I had visions of SJW bombardment, so I was just trying to preempt that :). If the term isn't derived from my suggested possible answer, than it does likely refer to resistance, as you say...
  $endgroup$
  – Hitek
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Since most of the switching topologies work by making controlled pulses in response to operating conditions, it's hard to imagine that we'd take the "bucking" notion and specifically put it on the one that's a step-down.
  $endgroup$
  – gbarry
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @gbarry - I sort of see it in the opposite scenario. An animal "bucks" as high and often as it need to in order to obtain it's goal, I see it as "providing action only to the extent that is required", rather than the dictionary version, which implies more of a "resistance" or "opposition" aspect, and would seem more analogous to the implementation in a linear regulator...
  $endgroup$
  – Hitek
  1 hour ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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7

$begingroup$

It's the same sense as to "buck" a trend:

1. to oppose or resist (something that seems oppressive or inevitable).
   "the shares bucked the market trend"
   synonyms: resist, oppose, contradict, defy, fight (against), go against, kick against
   "it takes guts to buck the system"

So you're "bucking" the input voltage to reduce the output voltage.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

John DJohn D

13.2k11 gold badge2222 silver badges3232 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Which is more applicable to transformers than to regulators, but the idea of "bucking" as "reducing voltage" probably came from transformer usage, and got transferred to regulator usage.
  $endgroup$
  – TimWescott
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Buck regulators use an inductor which opposes the current flow when the switch opens. So it's just as valid as the transformer use.
  $endgroup$
  – gbarry
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

7

$begingroup$

It's the same sense as to "buck" a trend:

1. to oppose or resist (something that seems oppressive or inevitable).
   "the shares bucked the market trend"
   synonyms: resist, oppose, contradict, defy, fight (against), go against, kick against
   "it takes guts to buck the system"

So you're "bucking" the input voltage to reduce the output voltage.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

John DJohn D

13.2k11 gold badge2222 silver badges3232 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Which is more applicable to transformers than to regulators, but the idea of "bucking" as "reducing voltage" probably came from transformer usage, and got transferred to regulator usage.
  $endgroup$
  – TimWescott
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Buck regulators use an inductor which opposes the current flow when the switch opens. So it's just as valid as the transformer use.
  $endgroup$
  – gbarry
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

It's the same sense as to "buck" a trend:

1. to oppose or resist (something that seems oppressive or inevitable).
   "the shares bucked the market trend"
   synonyms: resist, oppose, contradict, defy, fight (against), go against, kick against
   "it takes guts to buck the system"

So you're "bucking" the input voltage to reduce the output voltage.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

John DJohn D

13.2k11 gold badge2222 silver badges3232 bronze badges

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

John DJohn D

13.2k11 gold badge2222 silver badges3232 bronze badges

answered 8 hours ago

John DJohn D

13.2k11 gold badge2222 silver badges3232 bronze badges

answered 8 hours ago

John DJohn D

13.2k11 gold badge2222 silver badges3232 bronze badges

0

$begingroup$

I may be wrong(apparently there is no way to qualify any answer here as correct), but I had always assumed that "buck" referred to an action similar to a "bucking bronco or bull". A buck converter sends a voltage pulse only as often as it needs to in order to provide the rectified and filtered DC output required, just as a "bucking bronco or bull" will "buck" as often as he feels he needs to in order to eject the rider or loosen the strap.

share|improve this answer

answered 4 hours ago

HitekHitek

29555 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Please, no downvotes because you dislike rodeos. Even though I understand where you may be coming from, it is a very plausible answer...
  $endgroup$
  – Hitek
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  (No one is downvoting?) I honestly thought it had to do with animals as well when I first heard the term but I knew that it probably wasn't correct. The verb "buck" could mean to be resistant against something. I think there could be a way to qualify an answer and that's looking it up in the dictionary :)
  $endgroup$
  – KingDuken
  3 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @KingDuken - I know, but right after I posted the answer I had visions of SJW bombardment, so I was just trying to preempt that :). If the term isn't derived from my suggested possible answer, than it does likely refer to resistance, as you say...
  $endgroup$
  – Hitek
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Since most of the switching topologies work by making controlled pulses in response to operating conditions, it's hard to imagine that we'd take the "bucking" notion and specifically put it on the one that's a step-down.
  $endgroup$
  – gbarry
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @gbarry - I sort of see it in the opposite scenario. An animal "bucks" as high and often as it need to in order to obtain it's goal, I see it as "providing action only to the extent that is required", rather than the dictionary version, which implies more of a "resistance" or "opposition" aspect, and would seem more analogous to the implementation in a linear regulator...
  $endgroup$
  – Hitek
  1 hour ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

0

$begingroup$

I may be wrong(apparently there is no way to qualify any answer here as correct), but I had always assumed that "buck" referred to an action similar to a "bucking bronco or bull". A buck converter sends a voltage pulse only as often as it needs to in order to provide the rectified and filtered DC output required, just as a "bucking bronco or bull" will "buck" as often as he feels he needs to in order to eject the rider or loosen the strap.

share|improve this answer

answered 4 hours ago

HitekHitek

29555 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Please, no downvotes because you dislike rodeos. Even though I understand where you may be coming from, it is a very plausible answer...
  $endgroup$
  – Hitek
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  (No one is downvoting?) I honestly thought it had to do with animals as well when I first heard the term but I knew that it probably wasn't correct. The verb "buck" could mean to be resistant against something. I think there could be a way to qualify an answer and that's looking it up in the dictionary :)
  $endgroup$
  – KingDuken
  3 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @KingDuken - I know, but right after I posted the answer I had visions of SJW bombardment, so I was just trying to preempt that :). If the term isn't derived from my suggested possible answer, than it does likely refer to resistance, as you say...
  $endgroup$
  – Hitek
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Since most of the switching topologies work by making controlled pulses in response to operating conditions, it's hard to imagine that we'd take the "bucking" notion and specifically put it on the one that's a step-down.
  $endgroup$
  – gbarry
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @gbarry - I sort of see it in the opposite scenario. An animal "bucks" as high and often as it need to in order to obtain it's goal, I see it as "providing action only to the extent that is required", rather than the dictionary version, which implies more of a "resistance" or "opposition" aspect, and would seem more analogous to the implementation in a linear regulator...
  $endgroup$
  – Hitek
  1 hour ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

I may be wrong(apparently there is no way to qualify any answer here as correct), but I had always assumed that "buck" referred to an action similar to a "bucking bronco or bull". A buck converter sends a voltage pulse only as often as it needs to in order to provide the rectified and filtered DC output required, just as a "bucking bronco or bull" will "buck" as often as he feels he needs to in order to eject the rider or loosen the strap.

share|improve this answer

answered 4 hours ago

HitekHitek

29555 bronze badges

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

answered 4 hours ago

HitekHitek

29555 bronze badges

answered 4 hours ago

HitekHitek

29555 bronze badges

answered 4 hours ago

HitekHitek

29555 bronze badges