Selection Techniques for Commonly Used Overcurrent, Overvoltage, and Overtemperature Protection Circuits

With the increasing complexity and integration of electronic systems, and the decreasing working voltage, the requirements for reliability, stability, and safety in electronic systems are also increasing. The importance of circuit protection design is also increasing. In circuit protection design, the selection and application of circuit protection devices will directly affect the protection effect of electronic system circuit protection schemes.Today qihe smt pick and place machine sharing Selection Techniques for Commonly Used Overcurrent, Overvoltage, and Overtemperature Protection Circuits .

In order to assist engineers in selecting circuit protection devices correctly and designing efficient circuit protection solutions through rational application of circuit protection devices, this article will mainly introduce:

The first part introduces the selection techniques of common circuit protection devices;

The second part focuses on analyzing the practical application solutions of fuses, transient voltage suppressors, ESD protection devices, lightning protection devices, etc;

There are three main forms of circuit protection: overvoltage protection, overcurrent protection, and overtemperature protection.

Choosing appropriate circuit protection devices is the key first step in achieving efficient and reliable circuit protection design. So, how to reasonably select circuit protection devices? The protection principles of different protection devices vary, and the selection should be based on their protection principles, working conditions, and usage environment.

This article will introduce the selection techniques of several commonly used overvoltage, overcurrent, and overtemperature protection devices to help engineers choose circuit protection devices correctly.

Key points for selecting overvoltage protection devices

Overvoltage protection devices (OVPs) are used to protect subsequent circuits from load shedding or instantaneous high voltage damage. Commonly used overvoltage protection devices include varistors, transient voltage suppressors, electrostatic suppressors, and discharge tubes. The selection of overvoltage protection devices should pay attention to the following four key points:

1) Selection of turning off voltage Vrwm. Generally, the shutdown voltage should be at least 10% higher than the highest working voltage of the line

2) Selection of clamping voltage VC. VC refers to the voltage passing through TVS during ESD impulse state, which must be less than the maximum transient voltage that the protected circuit can withstand

3) Selection of surge power Pppm. The protection time varies with different powers, such as 600w (10/1000us); 300W (8/20us)

4) The selection of interpole capacitance. The higher the operating frequency of the protected component, the smaller the capacitance of the TVS is required

ESD suppressor

The biggest challenge in selecting the appropriate ESD protection device is how to easily determine which device can provide the maximum protection. System suppliers generally compare the quality of ESD protection devices through the ESD rated value (or nominal value) in the data manual. In fact, from these ratings, it is impossible to see how strong the device protection system is, and the key depends on its diode parameters. The main reference coefficients should be:

Quick response time

Low clamping voltage

High voltage surge withstand capacity

The selection of ESD devices should follow the following requirements:

(1) Attention when selecting electrostatic protection devices:

The clamping voltage should not exceed the maximum withstand voltage of the protected device

The circuit voltage does not exceed the working voltage of the protective device

Minimize interference and losses as much as possible with low capacitance and leakage current

(2) Electrostatic protection devices should be installed as close as possible to the electrostatic input and away from the protected devices

(3) The electrostatic protection device must be connected to a large ground wire, not a digital ground wire

(4) The grounding circuit should be as short as possible, and the distance between the electrostatic protection device and the protected circuit should be as short as possible

(5) Try to avoid parallel routing of protected and unprotected lines as much as possible

Varistor

Varistors are the most commonly used voltage limiting devices. Widely used in automotive electronics, communication, computers, consumer electronics, military electronics, etc., especially in LCD, keyboard, I/O interface, IC, MOSFET, CMOS, sensor, mobile phone, DVD, AV, ABS, motor control board, MP3, PDA, USB interface, and high-speed data signal line protection.

When selecting a varistor, it should be noted that the power supply voltage continuously applied to both ends of the varistor should not exceed the values listed in the specification table? Maximum continuous working voltage? ± value. It is also necessary to fully consider the fluctuation amplitude of the working voltage of the power grid (or circuit), and leave sufficient margin when selecting the voltage value of the varistor. The general fluctuation range in China is 30%. The maximum surge current through the varistor should not exceed the value specified in the technical specifications? Maximum impulse current? ± value (i.e. maximum flow rate). Considering the need to withstand multiple impacts, a surge current value that can withstand more than 10 impacts should be selected. The clamping voltage of the varistor must be less than the maximum voltage (i.e. safety voltage) that the protected component or equipment can withstand.

Transient voltage suppressor TVS

Transient voltage suppressor (TVS) is a high-efficiency protective device in the form of a diode. When the two poles of a TVS diode are subjected to reverse transient high-energy shocks, it can convert the high impedance between the two poles into low impedance at a speed of 10-12 seconds, absorbing up to several kilowatts of surge power, and clamping the voltage between the two poles at a predetermined value, effectively protecting precision components in electronic circuits from damage caused by various surge pulses.

Transient voltage suppression diodes (TVS) are widely used in overvoltage and ESD protection of semiconductors and sensitive electronic components, mainly including consumer products, industrial products, communication, computers, automobiles, power supplies, signal line protection, and military, aerospace, navigation systems, and control systems. The maximum clamping voltage VC cannot be greater than the maximum safe voltage of the protected equipment, and the reverse working voltage (reverse off state voltage) must be greater than the normal working voltage of the line. This is a problem that must be noted when using TVS tubes. In addition, AC voltage can only be used with bidirectional TVS.

The selection of TVS pipes should pay attention to the following points:

Determine the maximum DC or continuous operating voltage of the protected circuit, the rated standard voltage of the circuit, and the “high end” tolerance.

The TVS rated reverse turn off VWM should be greater than or equal to the maximum operating voltage of the protected circuit. If the selected VWM is too low, the device may enter avalanche or the normal operation of the circuit may be affected by excessive reverse leakage current. Serial connection for voltage sharing and parallel connection for current sharing.

The maximum clamping voltage VC of TVS should be less than the damage voltage of the protected circuit.

Within the specified pulse duration, the maximum peak pulse power consumption PM of TVS must be greater than the peak pulse power that may occur in the protected circuit. After determining the maximum clamping voltage, the peak pulse current should be greater than the transient surge current.

Ceramic gas discharge tubes

Ceramic gas discharge tubes are switch components used in common mode circuits of power lightning arresters to discharge lightning current to the ground, or can be connected in series with varistors in differential mode circuits to block their leakage current. In signal lightning protection devices, the first stage is often used to release surge current. Due to its slow response speed, the second stage is also used as voltage limiting protection.

When selecting ceramic gas discharge tubes, attention should be paid to:

Ceramic gas discharge tubes cannot be directly used on power sources for differential mode protection;

The breakdown voltage should be greater than the maximum signal frequency voltage on the line;

The withstand current should not be less than the maximum abnormal current that may occur on the line;

The pulse breakdown voltage must also be less than the voltage of the protected circuit.

Read more: Selection Techniques for Commonly Used Overcurrent, Overvoltage, and Overtemperature Protection Circuits

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