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I've built a PCB using the below circuit. I'm having some issues when the solenoid is being energized. It seems as if the kickback is getting into the ground plane affecting the PWM signal. Any help/tips on how to clean up this noise will be appreciated.

The solenoid current is about 1.3Amps for first 10ms @ 90% duty cycle then duty cycle drops to 50% for remainder of actuation. Frequency is set at 24Khz.

EDIT 2: Added a gate resistor (divider R29,R30) at output of U2. Seems to have reduced the noise issue.

Ch1 on the scope (green) is looking at the voltage across the solenoid connected at J2. Ch2 on the scope (yellow) is looking at the PWM_ON signal coming from the micro at R2. I've added a resistor divider and seems to have helped a little, but still very crappy.

Also maybe Q1 is not fully turning on?

Circuit

New Waveform with gate resistors. NewWave

Old Waveform with no gate resistors. Waveform

Yellow is Q2 Gate and Green is voltage across solenoid. Q2Gate and Solenoid voltage

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    \$\begingroup\$ That schematic makes no sense to me..... what do you think it is supposed to do? \$\endgroup\$
    – Trevor_G
    Dec 11, 2017 at 17:03
  • \$\begingroup\$ In short...the PWM signal enables gates of Q2 and Q3 thus engaging Q1 completing the circuit with a return path to GND for the solenoid through Q2. Q2 is shown as having the source connected to D4, but it's actually connected to BGND. \$\endgroup\$
    – j.valerio
    Dec 11, 2017 at 17:17
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    \$\begingroup\$ 80% of those components are unnecessary. Getting rid of those would be a good start. \$\endgroup\$
    – Matt Young
    Dec 11, 2017 at 17:21
  • \$\begingroup\$ It's already built, gotta work with this. \$\endgroup\$
    – j.valerio
    Dec 11, 2017 at 17:29
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    \$\begingroup\$ BTW.. those scope traces are meaningless if you don't explain what they are. \$\endgroup\$
    – Trevor_G
    Dec 11, 2017 at 18:02

1 Answer 1

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That is a clever little circuit! Is it for a diesel fuel injector or something like that? 90% duty to get the solenoid to open, 50% to hold it open. All of the components make sense to get a nice current recirculation in PWM mode then allow a 33V clip of the back EMF after switch off for a quick solenoid close. Maybe you could try slowing down the Q2 switching by adding some gate capacitance? Or provide a separate ground path from Q2 back to star ground to stop the ground bounce. I think Q1 is turning on OK because you are getting a clip of the back EMF in PWM mode.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Yes similar, but it's actually for a valve to spray some chemicals. I tried slowing Q1 by adding a .1uF cap but it didn't have an effect. I get this about 9V undershoot. Will try providing a separate ground and see if that helps. Added a scope capture of the undershoot. \$\endgroup\$
    – j.valerio
    Dec 12, 2017 at 13:05

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