Application Notes
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PT4660 & PT4680 Series
Operating Features & System Considerations for the
PT4660 & PT4680 Dual-Output Converters
Over-Current Protection
The dual-outputs of the PT4660 and PT4680 series of
DC/DC converters have independent output voltage
regulation and current limit control. Applying a load
current in excess of the current limit threshold at either
output will cause the respective output voltage to drop.
However, the voltage at Vo2 is derived from Vo1. There-
fore a current limit fault on Vo1 will also cause Vo2 to
drop. Conversely, a current limit fault applied to Vo2
will only cause Vo2 voltage to drop, and Vo1 will remain
in regulation.
The current limit is continuous with some current fold-
back. This means that at short circuit, the value of the
output current can be less than the rated output of the
converter. This is to reduce power dissipation when a fault
is present. As with any foldback-limited source, if a con-
stant current load is applied to the converter with a value
greater than the short-circuit current, the output voltage
will not come up. Resistive and non-linear load circuits
are not affected by this characteristic as long as the cur-
rent at startup does not exceed the short-circuit current
of the converter. The majority of low-voltage analog
and digital applications are not affected by this restric-
tion. However, when testing with an electronic load the
constant resistance setting should be used.
Output Over-Voltage Protection
Each output is monitored for over voltage (OV). For fail
safe operation and redundancy, the OV fault detection
circuitry uses a separate reference to the voltage regula-
tion circuits. The OV threshold is fixed, and set nominally
25 % higher than the set-point output voltage. If either
output exceeds the threshold, the converter is shutdown
and must be actively reset. The OV protection circuit
can be reset by momentarily turning the converter off.
This is accomplished by either cycling one of the output
enable control pins (EN1 or EN2), or by removing the
input power to the converter. Note: If Vo1 or Vo2 is adjusted
to a higher voltage, the margin between the respective steady-
state output voltage and its OV threshold is reduced. This can
make the module sensitive to OV fault detection, that may
result from random noise and load transients.
Over-Temperature Protection
The converter has an internal temperature sensor. At a
case temperature of approximately 115 °C the converter
will shut down, and will automatically restart when the
temperature returns to about 100 °C. The analog voltage
generated by the sensor is also made available at the
TEMP output (pin 5), and can be monitored by the
host system for diagnostic purposes. Consult the ‘Pin
Descriptions’ section of the data sheet for further infor-
mation on this feature.
Under-Voltage Lock-Out
The Under-Voltage Lock-Out (UVLO) circuit prevents
operation of the converter whenever the input voltage to
the module is insufficient to maintain output regulation.
The UVLO has approximately 2 V of hysterisis. This is
to prevent oscillation with a slowly changing input volt-
age. Below the UVLO threshold the module is off and
the enable control inputs, EN1 and EN2 are inoperative.
Primary-Secondary Isolation
The PT4460 and PT4680 series of DC/DC converters
incorporate electrical isolation between the input termi-
nals (primary) and the output terminals (secondary). All
converters are production tested to a withstand voltage
of 1500 VDC. The isolation complies with UL60950 and
EN60950, and the requirements for operational isolation.
This allows the converter to be configured for either a
positive or negative input voltage source.
The regulation control circuitry for these modules is
located on the secondary (output) side of the isolation
barrier. Control signals are passed between the primary
and secondary sides of the converter via a proprietory
magnetic coupling scheme. This eliminates the use of
opto-couplers. The data sheet ‘Pin Descriptions’ and
‘Pin-Out Information’ provides guidance as to which
reference (primary or secondary) that must be used for
each of the external control signals.
Fuse Requirements
To comply with safety agency requirements, these con-
verters must be operated with an external input fuse.
A fast-acting 250-V fuse is required. Table 1-1 gives
the recommended current rating for the product series
being used.
Table 1-1; Recommended Fuse Rating
Product
Input
Total
Fuse
Series
Bus
Iout
Rating
PT4660
48 V
30 A
7 A
PT4680
24 V
20 A
10 A