# ATX power supply specification question

I read the ATX power supply design guide, and I have a question related to the PWR_OK line specifications. In "Table 21. PWR_OK Signal Characteristics" I saw the following: "Logic level high - Between 2.4 V and 5 V output while sourcing 200 μA". My question is: what does this mean exactly? When PWR_OK is high the current will be limited by the PSU at 200 uA, so I will not be able to draw more than that from the PWR_OK line?. Or if I am trying to interface something with the PWR_OK line I should take precautions not to draw more than 200uA?

You'll most likely have to limit the current yourself. It's under that condition that the voltage is specified. Going higher than 200$\mu$A will probably cause the voltage to sag below 2.4V, which is the minimum for a high level in TTL. (I've also seen 2.7V as the minimum, I guess it depends on the TTL subfamily.)

Note that the same table says that "signal type = +5V TTL compatible", and that a low level is specified as < 0.4V. That output level is 0.4V less than the maximum TTL input level for a logic 0. And the 2.4V is 0.4V higher than the minimum for a high input level. This gives a 0.4V noise margin.

If you want to control a MOSFET with the PWR_OK signal, like OP, you'll need a logic level MOSFET, which draws enough current at a low $V_{GS}$. The BSG103 may be a good choice; it has an $I_D$ of 750mA at a $V_{GS}$ as low as 1.5V.

edit
On second thought the BSH103 may be too good. It has a $V_{GSth}$ of 0.4V, which means that worst case you'll have a drain current of 1mA with PWR_OK low. Even FETs with a $V_{GSth}$ of 1V typical indicate 0.4V as a minimum value. Can be fixed by using a resistor divider to lower the output voltage from PWR_OK. A 15k$\Omega$ + 25k$\Omega$ gives you a minimum gate voltage of 1.5V, while the current is maximum 125$\mu$A.

• What I am trying to do is to signal to a MCU when the PSU is turned on and PWR_OK is asserted high. So for this I am thinking of using a N channel MOSFET with the gate connected to PWR_OK. The MOSFET should switch on when PWR_OK goes high and switch off when PWR_OK goes low. No high frequency switching is involved. In order to limit the current drawn from the PWR_OK line when the gate is charging, I am thinking of putting a resistor in series with the gate and the PWR_OK line. To limit the current to about 160 μA I should use a 30KOhm resistor (at 5V). Is this a good approach? – Buzai Andras May 22 '12 at 19:34
• Isn't the resistor for the gate to big? Wouldn't is slow down too much the turn on time of the MOSFET? – Buzai Andras May 22 '12 at 19:35
• @Buzai - You don't really need the resistor, the output impedance of the PWR_OK voltage will do. That gate capacitance is not that big. If you do want to use a resistor a 4k7 will do. Make sure your FET is a logic level FET, which gives you some drain current already at the 2.4V. – stevenvh May 23 '12 at 4:20
• Thank you. One more thing. I also intend to put a 100k resistor from the gate to ground to prevent accidental turn-on off the FET. So instead of a 4k7 resistor I was thinking of using only a 1k resistor (the 1k and the 100k will form a voltage divider) to minimize the voltage drop across the resistor in series with PWR_OK and the gate. Are there any disadvantages in doing so? Is this setup ok? – Buzai Andras May 23 '12 at 14:28
• @Buzai - That's good thinking, but I would use a 1M$\Omega$ resistor and keep the 4.7k$\Omega$. Do you already know which FET you're going to use? – stevenvh May 23 '12 at 14:45