why did my regulator blow up  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: amateur_25
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2012, 12:33:44 pm
content: Thermal limiting if pushed can the regulator blow up and produce a spark across the terminalsor have shorted somthing out? Correct me if wrong the 7805cv has both thermal and output protection?

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2012, 12:39:59 pm
content: Quote from: amateur_25 on April 03, 2012, 12:33:44 pmThe 78xx/79xx series has both current and thermal limiting but you can still blow them up.One way to kill them is to push their output higher than the input (using some other power source).Also an overly large capacitor on the output can do it too, as it will feed backwards when the input power is turned off.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2012, 01:36:29 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on April 03, 2012, 12:39:59 pmi think thats why datasheet recommends the reverse diode between output and input and its drawn as BIG diode.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2012, 04:06:08 pm
content: Quote from: amateur_25 on April 03, 2012, 12:33:44 pmAlso the thermal limiting in these regulators is only designed for allowing the regulator to survive a short term overload. It is not designed for regular use, as when it is in thermal limiting, the junction temperature can be 10 degrees above the absolute maximum junction temperature. I wouldn't bank on a 7805 lasting too long if it was regularly taken into thermal limiting.If you wanted a reliable design, and say you wanted to get 1A from the 7805, the maximum input voltage I would allow for a TO220 package device would be 13V if it was on a big external heatsink or 8V if it was on a PCB heatsink. If there is no heatsink, you cannot run a 7805 reliably at 1A output. 400mA max with 8V input perhaps.If I was regularly going to overload or short out the 7805, I would add an extra current limit circuit before the regulator, or use a different regulator with a proper current limit.Richard.

author: amateur_25
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2012, 04:06:57 pm
content: I've always used 100uF on the input and 10uF on output. is this ok?Could you explain what u mean by proper protection?

author: Ajahn Lambda
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2012, 11:56:39 pm
content: Quote from: amateur_25 on April 03, 2012, 04:06:57 pmThose are fine values for general applications, yes. However, I would probably want to look at the voltages on a 'scope, on both sides of the regulator just to be sure. Just my experience, but I've had some dirrrrrty input voltages cause stupid problems.Do you have a schematic of the circuit you're trying to supply? Or at least, could you describe it?QuoteCondoms.j/kBasic circuit protection shouldalwaysbe used, e.g. circuit breakers, fuses, PTCs (poly-fuses), etc., simply to prevent secondary effects, such as physical damage and fire.The other commonly-implemented protection scheme, specific to this type of device, has been mentioned, namely (reverse-biased) diodes. I'm attaching a schematic (from an LM317 data sheet) that shows how they're to be connected in the circuit. Be sure to get the polarity correct.EDIT: I just noticed that the part number for D2 overlaps the COconnection to ground. Please disregard that; the D2part number should have been located ABOVE the diode for better clarity. Silly co-op students.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2012, 08:54:33 am
content: You actually got asparkacross the terminals?Do you have a huge inductor somewhere in your circuit?

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2012, 09:09:53 am
content: yeah i am thinking the same thing, you wont get a spark between 2 terminals unless:1. there are 2 solder dags so close to touching that a swift movement makes them touch2. or you had a large inductor in what you where powering or in your circuit and when it hit some limit as the voltage dropped the inductor gave it one hell of a belting,

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2012, 11:51:13 am
content: From the original post, it sounded like the regulator was cooked, it shorted and then the short probably blew out making a flash near the terminals.That is why my earlier comment was centered on the thermal aspects of using the 7805, and not the load capacitance problems.Richard.

author: AlphZeta
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2012, 01:24:35 pm
content: Shorting the input and the output pins (e.g. having the protection diode backwards) can also damage voltage regulators as 78xx can't sink current.

author: amateur_25
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2012, 02:20:49 pm
content: Quote from: amspire on April 04, 2012, 11:51:13 amGod damn it I was afraid of that. I think that what happend.Because the transformer was screeching for abit then it went. Then all a sudden the regulator blew up. It even cracked the die of the atmega328p. It definately wasn't there before because that mega was only just over a week old. I brought from rs brand new. That is quite a spectecular blow out.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2012, 09:28:15 pm
content: Quote from: amateur_25 on April 04, 2012, 02:20:49 pmPictures , that would make it all spectacular .

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2012, 09:39:49 pm
content: A good rough guide is that whenever a component is getting too hot to touch, it is probably getting too hot for reliable operation. At very least, you need to check the data sheets and the circuit currents to see of the part is overloaded.Also anytime you start smelling anything, something is too hot - turn off straight away and find the hot part. There was probably a smell from the 150 deg C regulator before it blew.When silicon gets too hot, the semiconductor silicon turns into a lump of plan metal, and you have a dead short.If the power to the circuit if high enough (like you have a unfused Mains transformer), something will eventually blow. In your case, it sounded like a bonding wire to the silicon blew like a fuse.Unless the load on a regulator is down in the tens of mA , it probably needs a heatsink.Richard.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2012, 02:38:31 am
content: Quote from: amateur_25 on April 04, 2012, 02:20:49 pmIf you hear funny or abnormal noises, stop or unplug the power immediately. Not so long ago I accidentally made a short in the circuit I was testing. As soon as I did it the transformer changed to a different sound and I knew something was wrong. It took me less than half a second to disconnect the wire...

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2012, 08:53:15 pm
content: A schematic of your circuit surrounding the regulator will help us determine if there is a design problem that lead to the regulator and uC demise...