EPC GaN FETs power 4 kW ADI buck-boost reference design

Efficient Power Conversion said Oct. 20 that its EPC2361 100 V eGaN FETs are being used in an Analog Devices buck-boost converter reference design for industrial, telecom and battery-charging systems. The platform reaches up to 4 kW and claims efficiency as high as 98.8%, underscoring GaN's role in higher-density power conversion.

Why it matters: - The reference design shows how gallium nitride power devices can support multi-kilowatt conversion in a smaller, more efficient platform. - Higher efficiency and lower loss can reduce heat, improve power density and expand use cases in industrial, telecom and battery-charging systems. - The design points to a path for bringing GaN into complete power systems, not just standalone components.

What happened: - Efficient Power Conversion announced the use of its EPC2361 100 V eGaN FETs in a buck-boost converter reference design from Analog Devices. - The design was announced Oct. 20 and pairs the LT7930 controller with EPC2361 devices. - The EVAL-LT7930-AZ platform runs from 36 V to 65 V input and delivers a 48 V output.

The details: - The reference design uses a dual-phase, interleaved buck-boost topology. - The platform supports up to 4 kW of output power. - Typical efficiency reaches 98.5% at 36 V input and 48 V input. - Typical efficiency reaches 98.8% at 65 V input. - The EPC2361 is a 100 V, 133 A enhancement-mode GaN transistor. - The device has a typical 0.75 mΩ on-resistance and comes in a 3 mm × 5 mm package. - EPC says the device's low conduction losses, low gate charge and lack of reverse recovery make it suitable for high-current, high-frequency power conversion. - The LT7930 controller includes gate drivers optimized for GaN FETs and programmable dead-time control. - On the evaluation platform, dead time is set to 10 ns based on EPC2361 parameters. - That setting is intended to minimize reverse-conduction losses while maintaining safe switching operation. - Alex Lidow, EPC CEO and co-founder, said the collaboration shows how EPC2361 GaN technology and the ADI LT7930 controller can deliver a compact, highly efficient multi-kilowatt buck-boost platform.

Between the lines: - The design is aimed at developers who need high-efficiency power conversion at higher power levels without moving back to larger silicon-based stages. - The emphasis on dead-time tuning suggests the practical value of GaN depends not just on the transistor, but on controller support and system-level optimization. - EPC is using the reference design to position GaN as a platform technology for full power architectures, not just discrete replacement parts.

What's next: - EPC says the EPC2361 is available through its global distribution network, Digi-Key and Mouser. - EPC also offers device documentation, models and evaluation hardware for engineers integrating the part into new designs. - The company is targeting applications including high-power AC-DC supplies, high-frequency DC-DC conversion, data center power systems, motor drives, robotics, drones and solar MPPT. - Engineers can use the reference design and supporting materials to evaluate whether GaN-based conversion fits their next-generation power systems.

The bottom line: - The EPC2361 and ADI reference design are a practical example of GaN moving deeper into multi-kilowatt power conversion, where efficiency and thermal performance matter most.