Of course I am always open to suggestions.

For currents of less than 3-4A, I'd use AO3400 and AO3401. I've tested the ones I have to 1A.

I bought mine on AliExpress for a couple cents each. I was willing to take a chance because the price from other, more reputable places, were too expensive. They're SMT and SIP adapters are about a dime each.

 

I only have one hand to solder with components I will only use through hole components for these kind of experiments. I tried logic level MOSFETs with a CMOS 555 that is posted earlier(much earlier) and was not happy with the results so now I am using a stock 555 to run these experiments due to the built in current drive. A cmos 555 cannot drive any transistor circuit at 5 volts power supply. Through hole logic level MOSFETs are plentiful and cheap.

Note I'm not giving up on protoboards. Before the stroke I was making printed circuit boards left and right. I do what I can and ask for help when I can't.

 

I do what I can and ask for help when I can't.

I'd be willing to solder SOT-23 parts to SIP adapters for you for the cost of parts and postage.

 

Another approach now that the chips are almost dirt cheap.




Still an NE555 is a good way to get there is you want to wire it up yourself (I have plenty of them now that they too are almost dirt cheap)

 

In general I am looking to protoboard something on a protoboard, which by definition means through hole components.I have already created a usable 9 Volt battery equivalent from 5 volts. If I can get more by using larger capacitors then I will not put that in my mental toolbox for future designs I am thinking in terms of 5 Volt wall warts as quick and dirty power supplies . There are many applications where 5 volts by itself is not enough . And I would love to be able to power an op amp circuit with +/- 10 volts. I am going to retry this experiment with multiple voltages month and much larger caps. Just another tool in my mental toolbox. I picked 20 kHz because it is out of human hearing range which means this power supply can be used for audio projects.