Communities

Writing
Writing
Codidact Meta
Codidact Meta
The Great Outdoors
The Great Outdoors
Photography & Video
Photography & Video
Scientific Speculation
Scientific Speculation
Cooking
Cooking
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Judaism
Judaism
Languages & Linguistics
Languages & Linguistics
Software Development
Software Development
Mathematics
Mathematics
Christianity
Christianity
Code Golf
Code Golf
Music
Music
Physics
Physics
Linux Systems
Linux Systems
Power Users
Power Users
Tabletop RPGs
Tabletop RPGs
Community Proposals
Community Proposals
tag:snake search within a tag
answers:0 unanswered questions
user:xxxx search by author id
score:0.5 posts with 0.5+ score
"snake oil" exact phrase
votes:4 posts with 4+ votes
created:<1w created < 1 week ago
post_type:xxxx type of post
Search help
Notifications
Mark all as read See all your notifications »
Q&A

Comments on Regulator Failure on Load Enable – Thermal Stress or Inrush Condition?

Post

Regulator Failure on Load Enable – Thermal Stress or Inrush Condition?

+3
−2

We perform a test on this device where the regulator input power is enabled with an 8A load connected to the output, while the device itself remains disabled. We then drive the EN pin high to enable the device under load.

In one of our boards, this resulted in the regulator overheating and showing visible damage (burned at one corner). Subsequently, we measured a 7-ohm short to GND on the input.

Is this behavior expected under such conditions? I understand that 8A is a significant load, but I’d appreciate any guidance before proceeding with further testing, as we've only evaluated one unit so far and want to avoid damaging others.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

History

2 comment threads

Load with output off? (2 comments)
How many boards did you test (1 comment)
Load with output off?
Olin Lathrop‭ wrote about 1 year ago

How can there be an 8 A load when the device is disabled? The output current should be 0 then. Was the output voltage on already source from somewhere else when the regulator was enabled?

Also, please give at least some indication what the "device" is directly in the question. Following a link to a datasheet is fine to get the details, but the part number and basic description (buck regulator in this case) should be directly in the question.

ReliablePotion‭ wrote about 1 year ago

@Olin Lathrop: There was an electronic load on the output that was enabled and set to 8A. Essentially, the regulator was to come up under load. One other note, it is possible voltage was present on the FREQ pin while the regulator input was at 0V during this test.