Low Voltage Drop Input Voltage Protection

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parkview
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Low Voltage Drop Input Voltage Protection

Post by parkview » Sat Jan 18, 2020 9:29 pm

For many years now I have used a Schottky Diode as my input reverse voltage protection device. Depending on the type of diode and current drawn, these usually give a voltage drop between 0.3V and 0.5V. This is better than a normal power diode which might give you a drop of 0.6V to 0.7V.

The other day I was designing up a new power distribution board for some micro servers that I am trialling at home. The largest Schottky Diode that I had on hand was a 2A rated SS32 diode. The two micro-servers draw around 750mA each, for a total of 1.5A through the single SS32 diode. Needlessly to say, it was running VERY hot with a voltage drop across it of: 470mV!
schottky.jpg
schottky.jpg (77.74 KiB) Viewed 7249 times

I ordered a larger 5A Schottky diode, but then did a bit of an Internet search and discovered the wonders of P-channel MOSFET on the high-side. The largest P-channel MOSFET I have is an AO3400 which is rated at 4A, but the Vgs is around 12V max, and mine might push 15V, so I added a 10V Zener diode to clamp the gate voltage:
P-Channel-MOSFET_Protection.jpg
P-Channel-MOSFET_Protection.jpg (15.58 KiB) Viewed 7249 times

This worked a treat on the vero board based beta test circuit. Its now only slightly warm to touch with a voltage drop of: 86mV!
MOSFET in action.jpg
MOSFET in action.jpg (60.75 KiB) Viewed 7249 times

I love MOSFETs

NOTE: the large 2512 sized 0.1 ohm (R100) is there so I can (eventually - when my quad Op-Amps arrive), measure the current draw. The various currents and voltages will be measured by a ESP32 and displayed via a webpage.

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