How do I protect a 3v DC circuit from being damaged, if someone accidentally plugs in a 12v power supply? The circuit will draw much less than 1 amp.
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
5
asked Mar 3, 2013 at 19:17
-
2\$\begingroup\$ What about a Zener diode? But it depends how much overvoltage. A Zener diode cannot save you from a massive overvoltage caused by a lightning etc. \$\endgroup\$– Al KeppCommented Mar 3, 2013 at 19:26
-
2\$\begingroup\$ Fuse + zener or (self-resetting) polyfuse + zener. \$\endgroup\$– Wouter van OoijenCommented Mar 3, 2013 at 19:32
-
\$\begingroup\$ @flamingpenguin Here's a schematic along the lines of Zener+fuse [what Wouter said]. \$\endgroup\$– Nick AlexeevCommented Mar 3, 2013 at 20:23
-
2\$\begingroup\$ Anyone able to comment on the use of a dc-dc buck converter in this role (e.g. if I design the system to normally be powered with a 5V supply stepped down with a buck convertor to 3V)? The buck convertor will still supply 3V if I plug a 12V supply in by accident...? \$\endgroup\$– flamingpenguinCommented Mar 5, 2013 at 18:42
-
\$\begingroup\$ LTC4361 cds.linear.com/docs/en/datasheet/436112fb.pdf \$\endgroup\$– flamingpenguinCommented May 21, 2015 at 12:31
Add a comment
|
5 Answers
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
3
One thing not specified by the original question is if they are looking for protection of I/O signals or power supply connections.
If the protections are needed for I/O signals then the suggested zener diode circuits or other methods including TVS (transient voltage surpressor), clamping diodes are the useful ways toward protection.
When protecting at the power supply connections there are a number of schemes that can be utilized. The previously mentioned poly fuse or other type that is designed to trip at a voltage overload are workable but often have a kick-in delay time where the circuit is momentarily exposed to the high voltage condition.
My suggested approach is to use a design that uses a wide voltage range input regulator circuit and a polarity protection diode. This gives very reasonable "protection" for voltages that a user is likely to mistakenly apply to the power supply input. Here is a block diagram of the suggested approach.
This approach also becomes the power supply for the device itself. For devices that operate at low power this approach can utilize simple linear regulators such as the 78xx series. These will protect for input voltages of up to 35 volts or so. Higher power devices will want to utilize a wide supply voltage range switcher type regulator. There are various devices voltages from vendors such as TI and National (now actually part of TI) that can support input voltages up to 60V and in some cases even 80V.
answered Mar 3, 2013 at 21:54
-
2\$\begingroup\$ Thanks. I am trying to protect the power supply connections. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Mar 4, 2013 at 19:50
-
\$\begingroup\$ Is something similar to an AMS1117 appropriate? \$\endgroup\$ Commented Mar 4, 2013 at 21:28
-
\$\begingroup\$ It may however require a higher input voltage to compensate the diode voltage drop. If someone is intending to use a LDO, it does not seem to be a good solution. \$\endgroup\$– gstortoCommented Jan 28, 2018 at 17:12
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
5
What you need is a crowbar circuit to protect your circuit from overvoltage. This is one of a standard methods used in power supplies and devices as a protection for over voltage.
A simple crowbar circuit is depicted below.
Circuit above will protect your circuit/device at Vo by blowing the fuse in case of an over-voltage condition. Keep in mind that this is a generic circuit describing the protection method.
Further Reading:
1. Crowbar Circuit
2. Basics of Over-voltage Protection
answered Mar 4, 2013 at 5:37
-
2\$\begingroup\$ Don't understand the -1 this answer. What could be wrong with this answer? \$\endgroup\$ Commented Oct 7, 2013 at 4:38
-
2\$\begingroup\$ The essential bit missing here is that the I^2*t rating of the fuse must be less than that of the SCR ("triac") for this to work. powerelectronics.com/site-files/powerelectronics.com/files/… \$\endgroup\$ Commented Aug 29, 2015 at 10:25
-
1\$\begingroup\$ This is also said in the docs of more elaborate/specialized OVP chips that can replace the TL431 in that schematic, e.g. see page 6 in onsemi.com/pub_link/Collateral/MC3423-D.PDF \$\endgroup\$ Commented Aug 29, 2015 at 10:46
-
\$\begingroup\$ @ChetanBhargava What does the crowbar offer that a simple series fuse and parallel zener doesn't offer? Example: (imgur.com/8hwb44l)? \$\endgroup\$– BortCommented Jul 31, 2016 at 15:34
-
3\$\begingroup\$ @Bort : if the normal load is several amps, then so is the fuse, and you probably won't find a zener big enough to do the job. This circuit can be rated accordingly. \$\endgroup\$– user16324Commented Oct 24, 2016 at 15:51
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
If you are willing to have a fuse blow, then a clamp circuit would work. The point is not to try to regulate the input voltage down to 3 V, but to deliberately blow the fuse, thereby disconnecting the input power, if that power exceeds some threshold. The fuse could be a polyfuse that then resets itself after power is removed, but that will add some series resistance to the supply even in normal operation. Whether that is acceptable depends on parameters you haven't told us.
You therefore want a circuit that ideally acts open until the voltage accross it reaches something like 3.5 V, then acts like a short. In theory a zener diode does this, but it won't have the current capability to blow the fuse. You can use a zener to turn on a transistor, which then does the heavy lifting. Or, you can use something like a TL431 as a voltage reference to turn on a transistor.
A totally different approach is to have a active switch in series with the power supply. A circuit would only enable the switch when the input is below the threshold, and disconnect when it is above. It won't be able to react instantly, so your circuit has to be able to tolerate probably at least a few µs of overvoltage. A L-C filter can limit the slope of input voltage, but this is starting to get overly complicated.
answered Mar 3, 2013 at 21:52
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
Well really you need a crowbar. This cct basically shorts (nearly) the power supply and hopefully signals the issue i.e. blows a fuse or engages a current limited supply to, well, current limit. The Wiki link has the principles, axotron has some solutions (which are generic and good).
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
2
Thing you are looking for is "Over voltage protection Circuit".
One way is to use a Zener Diode in reverse bias.
Zener diode will always give you a constant output voltage irrespective of input voltage (But Check Datasheet for Vmax)
You can also use ICs like NCP372 or MAX16126/MAX16127
-
9\$\begingroup\$ The problem with this circuit is, if the device is supplied with the 3 Volts as designed, the resistor R will cause a voltage drop, varying by current drawn. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Mar 3, 2013 at 19:48
-
8\$\begingroup\$ @AnindoGhosh Indeed. The chosen circuit diagram is ill-suited to the answer because it shows the Zener in the role of regulation rather than protection. \$\endgroup\$– KazCommented Mar 3, 2013 at 20:11