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B
6/96
AN-14
3
GENERAL
CAUSE
SYMPTOM
WHAT TO DO
Power supply does not start
TOPSwitch
blows up at turn
on or overload
Low Efficiency
Switching currents trigger
shutdown latch
Transformer primary Zener clamp
voltage too low
Secondary winding connected
backwards
Failed output rectifier or clamp
circuit
High
current during start up triggers
shutdown latch
optocoupler
R3 exceeds 15
(Figure 3)
Insufficient clamping or high
leakage inductance causes
excessive Drain-Source voltage
Transformer primary clamp Zener
voltage too low causing high loss
in clamp Zener
Clamp circuit blocking diode is
too slow or has low breakdown
voltage rating
Output rectifier recovery too slow
Output rectifier breakdown
voltage too low
Transformer primary inductance
too low causing high RMS
currents
TOPSwitch
current or power
rating too low
Use Kelvin (single point ground) connection for all
capacitors connected to Source pin (Section 4.1)
Minimize length of Source Pin
Improve PC layout (Section 4.2, 4.3)
Electrically isolate heat sink from circuit
Increase clamp Zener voltage rating to 1.5 times
reflected output voltage V
OR
Reverse connection on winding to match schematic dot
polarity
Replace output rectifier, clamp Zener, or clamp diode
Increase value of optical coupler LED series resistor
Use optical coupler with CTR between 50% and 200%
Add resistor (270
to 620
) in series with optocoupler
emitter
Add 0.1
μ
F bypass capacitor across Control and Source
pin (Section 12.1)
Use Zener diode/blocking diode clamp circuit across
transformer primary (Section 3)
Make sure Zener voltage clamps Drain voltage below
breakdown (Section 3)
Reduce transformer leakage inductance or V
OR
Increase clamp Zener voltage rating to 1.5 times reflected
output voltage V
OR
Use ultra fast recovery rectifier with at least 400 Volt
breakdown for TOP100 series and 600 Volt breakdown
for TOP200 series (section 3)
Use ultra fast recovery output rectifier
Increase breakdown voltage of output rectifier
Increase the transformer primary inductance
Increase the transformer turns ratio and primary
inductance for higher duty cycle and lower peak current
Use higher power
TOPSwitch
Add or increase
TOPSwitch
heatsink
1. Troubleshooting Guide