> Alternately, many folks seem to have success with small toaster ovens  
> and/or electric skillets. Not sure how many have done that with high  
> pin count LGA, though.

In an ideal world if one pad gets soldered then you'd expect all of them
would. Given that each IC is US$30+ and it'd take two in parallel to get
the output amperage with some headroom it's not an experiment I'd like
to fail too often ;-) !!

Having a look at the LTC3780 as well

http://www.linear.com/pc/productDetail.jsp?navId=H0,C1,C1003,C1042,P10090

A simpler cheaper IC using external FETs. Have to check with the client
but I'm wondering if this converter will be running mostly in boost mode.
ICs I've looked at so far do better re amps in buck mode. Low voltage
from solar or turbine generally means low amps, which fits with the lower
boost capability. At the high VA end a shunt might be acceptable if there's
unusable excess, but if boost and buck are in the same package for the
right price I'd go that way

Also asked Linear techs for their advice. Will probably trawl though the
Maxim site, although most industry power supplies I come across have
Linear ICs


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