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Very high VDD-VSS current

Category: Hardware
Product Number: AD5371

AD5371 data sheet says that IDD max value is 20mA with unloaded channels and this was seen 10+ hours when testing a board. However then AD5371 started drawing upwards of 200mA from VDD and sinking 200mA of current to VSS on startup. This caused thermal shutdown on the connected regulator keeping VDD at 2V, not the intended 16.5V.

When debugging I removed all the connected components including caps, outputs and the regulator and the DAC still pulled a ridiculous amount of current from an externally connected VDD source. Interestingly the floating outputs were oscillating between GND and -300mV at 20Hz which sounds like thermals to me but it doesn't address the issue of the massive current. On thermals, though the case temperature never went above 50C adding further confusion.

The VDD regulator I am using is the LP2951 at 16.5V

The VSS regulator is LM79L08F at -8V

VCC is 3.3V

Vref at 4V

Outputs originally go into op_amps configured as non inverting amplifiers.

Any help in diagnosing this problem would be amazing, I'm completely stumped.

Please let me know any other information you may need.

Thanks

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[edited by: Architectoid at 4:57 PM (GMT -4) on 8 Apr 2025]
  • Hi  ,

    Thank you for using AD5371. 
    In your first sentence, does it mean that it was working as intended for 10+ hours while testing a board and then suddenly it drew 200mA?
    May we know the conditions of the testing (e.g. temperature conditions, supply current limits, etc.)
    Is the AD5371 itself still in working condition? Did you try replacing with a known good sample? 

    Regards,
    Flynn

  • Yes it was working fine for a while before suddenly drawing 200mA. Conditions are standard lab conditions (25C). Thermal shutdown enabled on AD5371. VDD limited to 220mA by regulator, however stopped short due to thermal shutdown of regulator. Similar regulation on VSS. Retested with replica of board and operation is perfect, like the previous board had been for many hours.
    I soldered the non functioning AD5371 onto a breakout board and tested VDD-VSS resistance which was measured at 20Ohms. Which explains the high current but not why it happened. No further testing was done at this point. Please let me know if any other testing is useful.

    Thanks for your help