1

Paralleling MOSFETs
u 50 W 4 example
u Simple Parallel
u Thermal Impact
u Linear Amplifier Paralleling

Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics

 2
Pload = 50 W Rload = 4
Esupply = ?
25 Vdc
P Q w.c. = ?
15.5 W
TJ = 80C+15.5W(2/W+0.2/W+2C/W)
145C
Right at the top of what we can do.
 3
Parallel 3 MOSFETs
u D-D-D: G-G-G: S-S-S
u Ieach = I load/3 PQ each = PQ total/3
u Actual result
Massive oscillations
Mass suicide
u Why?
 4
Thermal effect on Id vs Vgs
Vgs = 5V, T = 25C, Id = ?
Id = 1.6A
Vgs = 5V, T = 150C, Id = ?
Id = 3A

The hotter it gets more I

=> more P => more T =>
more I => => smoke
 5
Paralleling Linear MOSFETs
Add source R for each Q
T => I => Vs => Vgs
drain

gate
=>I
+
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q forced to share I evenly
V gs1 +
+
V gs2
V g in + I2
V R1 +
R1 V R2 R2 R3
I1 I3
R < 1/gfs IRF630 ?
source 0.33
Watch V and P
 6
Push Pull Amplifier Protection
V lo
ad

R load s m a l l e r I
load
I sc
V load

Iload
Ifb Iknee
Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics
 7
Overview
u Current Limiting
performance positive side schematic
operation problem
u Current Foldback
performance
positive side schematic operation
analysis design

Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics

 8
Current Limiting - performance
V load low voltages out
=> whatever current Rload needs

R load s m a l l e r
Iload

I sc
Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics
 9
Current Limiting - performance
V load low voltages out
=> whatever current Rload needs

I demand too high

R load s m a l l e r
Iload

I sc
Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics
 10
Current Limiting - performance
V load low voltages out
=> whatever current Rload needs

I demand too high

=> Iload limited to ISC
R load s m a l l e r
Iload

I sc
Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics
 11
Current Limiting - performance
V load low voltages out
=> whatever current Rload needs

I demand too high

=> Iload limited to ISC
R load s m a l l e r & Vload dropped as set by Rload
Iload

I sc
Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics
 12
Current Limiting - performance
V load low voltages out
=> whatever current Rload needs

I demand too high

=> Iload limited to ISC
R load s m a l l e r & Vload dropped as set by Rload
Iload
Vload = Isc * Rload
I sc
Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics
 13
Current Limiting - performance
V load low voltages out
=> whatever current Rload needs

I demand too high

=> Iload limited to ISC
R load s m a l l e r & Vload dropped as set by Rload
Iload
Vload = Isc * Rload
I sc constant
Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics
 14
Current Limiting - Positive side schematic
Rsc small 0.x

normal operation
Iload < ISC
Q2 off => no effect

Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics

 15
Current Limiting - Positive side schematic
Rsc small 0.x

normal operation
Iload < ISC
Q2 off => no effect

Iload => VR sc

Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics

 16
Current Limiting - Positive side schematic
Rsc small 0.x

normal operation
Iload < ISC
Q2 off => no effect

Iload => VR sc

VR sc = 0.6V =>

Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics

 17
Current Limiting - Positive side schematic
Rsc small 0.x

normal operation
Iload < ISC
Q2 off => no effect

Iload => VR sc

VR sc = 0.6V =>
Q2 on => Q1 VGS shorted
Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics
 18
Current Limiting - Positive side schematic
Rsc small 0.x

normal operation
Iload < ISC
Q2 off => no effect

Iload => VR sc

VR sc = 0.6V =>
Q2 on => Q1 VGS shorted
Purdue University EET 257Q1 off => Power
Iload & RF Electronics
 19
Current Limiting - Positive side schematic
Rsc small 0.x

normal operation
Iload < ISC
Q2 off => no effect

Iload => VR sc

VR sc = 0.6V =>
Q2 on => Q1 VGS shorted
Purdue University EET 257Q1 off => Power
Iload & RF Electronics
 20
Current Limiting - Problem
ISC > Vload P / Rload
Vsupply = 30V
Rload = 8 > 20VP / 8 = 2.5AP
Vload max = 20VP pick Isc = 2.8A
TA = 50 oC RSC = 0.6V/ 2.8A = 0.22
JA = 7.5 oC/W
PQ short = (30V * 2.8A) / 2 = 42W
ISC = ? RSC = ?
TJ = 50 oC + 42W * 7.5 oC/W
PQ shorted load = ? = 365 oC => smoke !
TJ = ?
Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics
 21
Current Limiting - Problem
ISC > Vload P / Rload
Vsupply = 30V pick Isc = 2.8A
Rload = 8
Vload max = 20VP TJ = 365 oC => smoke !
TA = 50 oC
JA = 7.5 oC/W
Why does it not burn up when the
load is not shorted?
ISC = ? RSC = ?

PQ shorted load = ? What are we going to do?

TJ = ?
Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics
 22
Overview
u Current Limiting
performance positive side schematic
operation problem
u Temperature Sensor
Case temperature
IC switch

Purdue University EET 257 Power & RF Electronics

 23
Temperature Switch
TJ =TS + P(JC + CS ) Heat sink temperature = ?
TS =TJ P(JC + CS ) Temperature switch
C C
TS =130C 19.5W1.9 + 0.2 =89C MAX6501 - 95C
W W
TC < 95C => output open
3.3k pullup to 5V
gnd
MAXIM
MAX6501
TC > 95C => output low
Hysteresis pin
1 3 5 7
V+ => 10C
HYST gnd Vcc
85 C to go high
TOVER