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LM2940ct 5.0 gets HOT quick. — Parallax Forums

LM2940ct 5.0 gets HOT quick.

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2003-12-09 15:02 in General Discussion
Hello,

In a circuit I made up to run a Amulet LCD I use the LM2940ct 5.0.
The only things being powered in the circuit is the stamp and the
LCD. The LM2940 gets hot after a few min which isn't nice. The burn
your finger kind of hot. I have a 22uf cap between the output and
ground as specified in the datasheet for stability.

Is ths just because of the load placed on it due to the lcd? Should I
use some other voltage regulator?

Thanks,
John

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-12-05 07:17
    Hi John,

    What is the input voltage to the regulator -- can you measure it? The power
    (in Watts) being dissipated within the regulator is the voltage drop across
    the regulator times the current passing through it. In other words: (Vin -
    Vout) Iout = W

    If your Vin is high, you can develop significant heat even without a lot of
    output current. ...Do you know about how much output current you have?
    Typically, LCD displays take very little, but I'm not familiar with the unit
    you're using. Does it have a backlight?

    There is another possibility... Did you see the part in the LM2940CT data
    sheet about the output capacitor ESR and potential oscillation? Did you
    take steps to obtain caps with appropriate ESR? I haven't experienced it
    personally, but you could have an issue there that might result in
    overheating. Here's a snip from p. 10 of the National data sheet:

    MINIMUM CAPACITANCE:

    The minimum output capacitance required to maintain stability

    is 22 µF (this value may be increased without limit).

    Larger values of output capacitance will give improved transient

    response.

    ESR LIMITS:

    The ESR of the output capacitor will cause loop instability if

    it is too high or too low. The acceptable range of ESR plotted

    versus load current is shown in the graph below. It is essential

    that the output capacitor meet these requirements,

    or oscillations can result.


    If you aren't running very much current, and your Vin isn't too high, a
    small clip-on heat sink can significantly reduce the regulator's
    temperature.

    Randy
    www.glitchbuster.com





    > In a circuit I made up to run a Amulet LCD I use the LM2940ct 5.0.
    > The only things being powered in the circuit is the stamp and the
    > LCD. The LM2940 gets hot after a few min which isn't nice. The burn
    > your finger kind of hot. I have a 22uf cap between the output and
    > ground as specified in the datasheet for stability.
    >
    > Is ths just because of the load placed on it due to the lcd? Should I
    > use some other voltage regulator?
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-12-05 11:39
    A 2930 / 2940 may not regulate properly without the caps and will get
    very hot. BTDT.

    > What is the input voltage to the regulator -- can you measure it? The power
    > (in Watts) being dissipated within the regulator is the voltage drop across
    > the regulator times the current passing through it. In other words: (Vin -
    > Vout) Iout = W
    >
    > If your Vin is high, you can develop significant heat even without a lot of
    > output current. ...Do you know about how much output current you have?
    > Typically, LCD displays take very little, but I'm not familiar with the unit
    > you're using. Does it have a backlight?
    >
    > There is another possibility... Did you see the part in the LM2940CT data
    > sheet about the output capacitor ESR and potential oscillation? Did you
    > take steps to obtain caps with appropriate ESR? I haven't experienced it
    > personally, but you could have an issue there that might result in
    > overheating. Here's a snip from p. 10 of the National data sheet:
    >
    > MINIMUM CAPACITANCE:
    >
    > The minimum output capacitance required to maintain stability
    >
    > is 22 µF (this value may be increased without limit).
    >
    > Larger values of output capacitance will give improved transient
    >
    > response.
    >
    > ESR LIMITS:
    >
    > The ESR of the output capacitor will cause loop instability if
    >
    > it is too high or too low. The acceptable range of ESR plotted
    >
    > versus load current is shown in the graph below. It is essential
    >
    > that the output capacitor meet these requirements,
    >
    > or oscillations can result.
    >
    >
    > If you aren't running very much current, and your Vin isn't too high, a
    > small clip-on heat sink can significantly reduce the regulator's
    > temperature.

    >
    > > In a circuit I made up to run a Amulet LCD I use the LM2940ct 5.0.
    > > The only things being powered in the circuit is the stamp and the
    > > LCD. The LM2940 gets hot after a few min which isn't nice. The burn
    > > your finger kind of hot. I have a 22uf cap between the output and
    > > ground as specified in the datasheet for stability.
    > >
    > > Is ths just because of the load placed on it due to the lcd? Should I
    > > use some other voltage regulator?
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-12-06 03:38
    Hello,

    All I have is a cap between the output and ground at 22uf. What are
    the caps on the BS2P40 demo board? I can't find a schematic of it.
    That would work alright. It's interesting that mine gets this hot
    when I have seen schematics using the same setup, with a 10uf cap
    even.

    My input is 9V, I'm using the power supply that came with the P40
    demo board.

    John
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-12-06 03:48
    I believe the data sheets show a 0.1 uF between the input and ground,
    and at minimum a 10 uF between the output and ground, both as close to
    the regulator as possible.

    Keep in mind the adapter you have may be putting out more than 9 volts,
    or may not have a very clean output, both of which will make the
    regulator get hot.

    Also, remember the more voltage you have to drop and the more current
    you want to pull, the hotter the device will run.

    > All I have is a cap between the output and ground at 22uf. What are
    > the caps on the BS2P40 demo board? I can't find a schematic of it.
    > That would work alright. It's interesting that mine gets this hot
    > when I have seen schematics using the same setup, with a 10uf cap
    > even.
    >
    > My input is 9V, I'm using the power supply that came with the P40
    > demo board.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-12-06 03:56
    Another data sheet says 0.47 uF and 22 uF. Go figure.

    > I believe the data sheets show a 0.1 uF between the input and ground,
    > and at minimum a 10 uF between the output and ground, both as close to
    > the regulator as possible.
    >
    > Keep in mind the adapter you have may be putting out more than 9 volts,
    > or may not have a very clean output, both of which will make the
    > regulator get hot.
    >
    > Also, remember the more voltage you have to drop and the more current
    > you want to pull, the hotter the device will run.
    >
    > > All I have is a cap between the output and ground at 22uf. What are
    > > the caps on the BS2P40 demo board? I can't find a schematic of it.
    > > That would work alright. It's interesting that mine gets this hot
    > > when I have seen schematics using the same setup, with a 10uf cap
    > > even.
    > >
    > > My input is 9V, I'm using the power supply that came with the P40
    > > demo board.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-12-06 10:52
    Check your caps, it might be leaky. Another, does your LCD has
    backlights?

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Bill Boyer <daweasel@s...> wrote:
    > Another data sheet says 0.47 uF and 22 uF. Go figure.
    >
    > > I believe the data sheets show a 0.1 uF between the input and
    ground,
    > > and at minimum a 10 uF between the output and ground, both as
    close to
    > > the regulator as possible.
    > >
    > > Keep in mind the adapter you have may be putting out more than 9
    volts,
    > > or may not have a very clean output, both of which will make the
    > > regulator get hot.
    > >
    > > Also, remember the more voltage you have to drop and the more
    current
    > > you want to pull, the hotter the device will run.
    > >
    > > > All I have is a cap between the output and ground at 22uf. What
    are
    > > > the caps on the BS2P40 demo board? I can't find a schematic of
    it.
    > > > That would work alright. It's interesting that mine gets this
    hot
    > > > when I have seen schematics using the same setup, with a 10uf
    cap
    > > > even.
    > > >
    > > > My input is 9V, I'm using the power supply that came with the
    P40
    > > > demo board.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-12-06 16:05
    since the lm2940 is a low voltage drop out regulator
    i bet your 9v adaptor is pumping to much voltage in it
    should be something like 6.5 to 7.5 going in
    i would just replace it with a 7805 it will run cooler
    off 9v good luck
    --- Bill Boyer <daweasel@s...> wrote:
    > Another data sheet says 0.47 uF and 22 uF. Go
    > figure.
    >
    > > I believe the data sheets show a 0.1 uF between
    > the input and ground,
    > > and at minimum a 10 uF between the output and
    > ground, both as close to
    > > the regulator as possible.
    > >
    > > Keep in mind the adapter you have may be putting
    > out more than 9 volts,
    > > or may not have a very clean output, both of which
    > will make the
    > > regulator get hot.
    > >
    > > Also, remember the more voltage you have to drop
    > and the more current
    > > you want to pull, the hotter the device will run.
    > >
    > > > All I have is a cap between the output and
    > ground at 22uf. What are
    > > > the caps on the BS2P40 demo board? I can't find
    > a schematic of it.
    > > > That would work alright. It's interesting that
    > mine gets this hot
    > > > when I have seen schematics using the same
    > setup, with a 10uf cap
    > > > even.
    > > >
    > > > My input is 9V, I'm using the power supply that
    > came with the P40
    > > > demo board.
    >
    >
    >
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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-12-07 04:46
    Thank you for all the input. I will try it with the additional cap.,
    and also a 7805 to compare performance.

    Thanks,
    John

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, kenneth magers
    <kenneth_m_73149@y...> wrote:
    > since the lm2940 is a low voltage drop out regulator
    > i bet your 9v adaptor is pumping to much voltage in it
    > should be something like 6.5 to 7.5 going in
    > i would just replace it with a 7805 it will run cooler
    > off 9v good luck
    > --- Bill Boyer <daweasel@s...> wrote:
    > > Another data sheet says 0.47 uF and 22 uF. Go
    > > figure.
    > >
    > > > I believe the data sheets show a 0.1 uF between
    > > the input and ground,
    > > > and at minimum a 10 uF between the output and
    > > ground, both as close to
    > > > the regulator as possible.
    > > >
    > > > Keep in mind the adapter you have may be putting
    > > out more than 9 volts,
    > > > or may not have a very clean output, both of which
    > > will make the
    > > > regulator get hot.
    > > >
    > > > Also, remember the more voltage you have to drop
    > > and the more current
    > > > you want to pull, the hotter the device will run.
    > > >
    > > > > All I have is a cap between the output and
    > > ground at 22uf. What are
    > > > > the caps on the BS2P40 demo board? I can't find
    > > a schematic of it.
    > > > > That would work alright. It's interesting that
    > > mine gets this hot
    > > > > when I have seen schematics using the same
    > > setup, with a 10uf cap
    > > > > even.
    > > > >
    > > > > My input is 9V, I'm using the power supply that
    > > came with the P40
    > > > > demo board.
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed.
    > > Text in the Subject and Body of the message will be
    > > ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    > >
    > >
    >
    >
    > __________________________________
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    > New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing.
    > http://photos.yahoo.com/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-12-09 15:02
    Many of the regulators require capacitance on the input and output to
    minimize oscillation. Furthermore, hidden in the ap note (the ones that I
    have seen) is an admonition to have a minimum current load. Otherwise the
    output impedance is too high and it oscillates. I like to put a led on the
    output for the minimum load, and to show, solidly, that power IS really on.

    Original Message
    From: Bill Boyer [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=L8V5XDx_MJO2IjlkfK3rdbtirqFNZYAcfQb3yFdnwhP6eSNLV8hYjH1ibYvkzlmJsAf90LgucOOgSyFEa90]daweasel@s...[/url
    Sent: Friday, December 05, 2003 10:48 PM
    To: Basic Stamp List
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: LM2940ct 5.0 gets HOT quick.


    I believe the data sheets show a 0.1 uF between the input and ground, and at
    minimum a 10 uF between the output and ground, both as close to the
    regulator as possible.

    Keep in mind the adapter you have may be putting out more than 9 volts, or
    may not have a very clean output, both of which will make the regulator get
    hot.

    Also, remember the more voltage you have to drop and the more current you
    want to pull, the hotter the device will run.

    > All I have is a cap between the output and ground at 22uf. What are
    > the caps on the BS2P40 demo board? I can't find a schematic of it.
    > That would work alright. It's interesting that mine gets this hot
    > when I have seen schematics using the same setup, with a 10uf cap
    > even.
    >
    > My input is 9V, I'm using the power supply that came with the P40
    > demo board.



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