Dave Hills (dhills@onramp.net) wrote:
: minilinx@netaccess.co.nz wrote:
: > 
: > Hi,
: > I am experiencing problems with over voltage pikes destroying the
: > power supply to a micro processor controlled circuit.
: > The current conditions and ciruit are as described below.
: > 
: > Voltage = 24V (nominal)
: > 
: > In series with the +Ve input to the device are a 330R/2W resistor,
: > 1N4007 Diode and a 1W/12V Zener Diode.  Following this is a 20V/1W
: > Zener diode and 100uF capacitor in shunt.  This then feeds a LM7805
: > regulator.
: > 
: > Referring to an application note by SGS-Thompson regarding protection
: > for 12V automotive systems, I expect that voltages as high as 300V are
: > possible for up to 300mS.  I assume that the 24V system from the
: > diesel engine may produce spikes well in excess of this.





: Get yourself a copy of international standard "ISO 7637-2".  This covers
: the 24 volt vehicular requirements for immunity from electrical
: transients.  It provides all the waveforms and voltage levels you will
: have to contend with.  A good L-C filter on the input is a must to
: attenuate the high voltage fast transients normally encountered.  

The LC filter will not necessarily help. A fast-rising tranisient will
couple right on through most simple inductors due to the interwinding
capacitance. This is why zeners or transzorbs are mandatory. A zener is
*extremely* fast, since there is no Trr or Tfr time to contend with (it
is always reverse biased, so removal of minority carriers from the PN
junction is irrelivant). Most microcontroller-based electronics that I
have seen in volume production (used in an automotive environment)
relies on this approach, not LC filters.

Bob.


Date: 5 Dec 1996 21:02:21 GMT

Original Subject: Re: Hints for Automotive Electronics required


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