Voltage Follower - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: KW
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 09, 2019, 03:26:02 pm
content: Hello everyone...I just configured a simple voltage follower as shown in the figure below. I use a model of TL-071 op-amp for my setup. The VCC and VDD is connected to a +15V and -15V power supply separately. In the meanwhile, Vref is connected to a 1V power supply.At the beginning, all of three power supplies (VCC, VDD, Vref) are turned off. When the VCC is turned on and the others power supplies are in off condition, a high voltage, Vout is coming out (around +14.5V). But when the VDD is turned on, the Vout will back to ~0V.Does anyone know why the high voltage only comes out at Vout when the VCC is turned on first?Please comment and give some suggestions to minimize the voltage at the Vout when the VCC is turned on first.Thanks.

author: Nerull
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2019, 04:01:41 pm
content: You have a component with one connection, to +15V. I'm not sure how you expect it to produce any other voltage on the output.Do you find components often function when only connected to power and not ground?

author: KW
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 09, 2019, 04:24:25 pm
content: Thank you for your replying.In my case, all of three power supplies (VCC, VDD, Vref) at the figure are connected a common ground.In this experiment, I expected when the VCC (+15V) power supply is turned on first will result a 0V at Vout but this doesn't happen until the VDD (-15V) is turned on.A huge voltage difference occurs at the Vout at different switching sequence:1. VCC (+15V) is turned on first later on by VDD (-15V) - Vout = ~ +14.5V2. VDD (-15V) is turned on first later on by VCC (+15V) - Vout = ~ -1.0V

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2019, 04:50:28 pm
content: You've got a power and signal sequencing problem. Generally, both supply rails of a dual supply OPAMP should always have their voltage applied (and removed) at the same time. Also, no signals should be applied unless the operating voltages on the supply rails are present and stable.For specific OPAMPs and application circuits it may be permissible to apply signals before power. e.g. if the absolute maximum input voltage range extends considerably beyond the rails, or if the input circuit has enough resistance to limit the input current enough to prevent damage. See OPAMP datasheet + any available manufacturer's application guides for that OPAMP, and consider carefully if the specified permissible input voltage range could be violated transiently during powerup or powerdown.If you use mechanical or independent supply rail switching, or there is any other way one rail may become disconnected, even momentarily, it may be helpful to put reversed biassed diodes between both rails and ground so neither rail can be dragged past ground when it isn't powered. It will still misbehave, but usually less severely than if a rail is totally disconnected and floating.I would also recommend 10K resistors in series with each input (i.e. one between Vref and in+ and the other in the feedback loop, so the input bias currents for both in+ and in+ cause similar voltage drops).

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2019, 05:43:25 pm
content: There is no generic answer to your question. The result lies in the details of the op amp implementation. Not just the schematic of the op amp internals, but also all of the parasitic junctions that occur due to the fab process. When specified voltages are applied the parasitic junctions are all properly biased to prevent any impact on operation and the circuit will work as designed.In your test case there is a complex (meaning there are multiple signal paths, some of which may involve diodes or transistors), probably high impedance path to ground through the 1.0 volt reference circuit. And then whichever supply you turn on. Your results are not surprising, but as others have said, might be totally different with another type of op amp, and possibly different with another sample of the same type.If your application requires the output to be maintained below a certain level you must control power supply sequencing, and possibly clamp the inputs and output by some means until the supplies are known to be up and stable. Power supply sequencing is itself a fairly large subject and can include limits on how long one supply can be up before the other, and ramp rates on the turn on.This is one of those details often skipped in university classes and intro textbooks that causes young engineers much stress in the real world.

author: basinstreetdesign
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2019, 06:42:05 pm
content: When you use an IC it is always a good idea to have a copy of its datasheet at hand. Here is the datasheet for the TL071:http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tl072b.pdfTake a look at section 8.3.2. It states: "Avoid input voltage values below 1 V to prevent phase reversal where output goes high." This means that the output can go towards the positive rail even if the inputs might suggest it do otherwise, in the case that the inputs go outside of their valid range. The valid range for this op-amp is guaranteed to be no worse than (from table 6.10) from -11V to +11V using a +/-15V rails. So, if an input goes MORE NEGATIVE than 4V above the -ve rail then the output can go to the positive rail.Your situation does exactly that. When you turn on the +ve rail only, the inputs and the negative rail is still pretty close to 0V. The op-amp sees this as an input at the negative rail, not 4V above it and (BOOM) sends the output right up as close as it can get it to the positive rail.This behaviour is a peculiarity of this series of op-amps and is plainly stated in the datasheet. Other type op-amps may behave differently.

author: Audioguru
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2019, 01:52:30 am
content: The TL07x and TL08x opamps have the Phase Reversal problem. The outputs are not modern rail-to-rail, instead they are emitter-followers that cannot go higher or lower than 2 or 3 volts from a power rail voltage.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2019, 05:37:39 pm
content: There are op-amps which will work with their inputs at the extremes of either supply rails. They're known as rail-to-rail op-amps. Most are restricted to lower supply voltages than 16V, as they're fabricated using CMOS technology, but there are some which will work up to 30V or more such as the LM7332 and OPA170, but they're much more expensive than the TL071 and through hole packages are either non-existent or difficult to get hold of. Fortunately SMT to DIP adaptor PCBs are available for use on a breadboard or stripboard.https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13655

author: bson
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 11, 2019, 10:07:38 pm
content: The problem lies with the power supply, not your buffer. The supply should power up logic supplies first, then other the rails. If you're using a lab bench supply, then this is a merely an artifact of you turning on each channel in sequence.