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LT8357 Sepic - not working at low voltage input

Thread Summary

The user designed a SEPIC converter using the LT8357 with a 9V-36V input and 15V, 3A output. The issue is that the output voltage drops to 5V when the input voltage is below 10.8V. The final solution involves using a 60V FET and a 4.7mOhm sense resistor, as the 40V FET and 8mOhm resistor limit the output power at lower input voltages. Additional troubleshooting steps included adjusting the EN/UVLO resistors and removing capacitors in parallel with the feedback dividers.
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Category: Hardware
Product Number: LT8357

Hi,

I have designed a SEPIC converter, based on LT8357. I used the LT Power CAD and verified the design with excel sheet based on the datasheet.

The design spec is 9V-36V input, 15V output, 3A. 

The problem is: When input voltage in <10.8V, output voltage drops to 5V. 

My load is ~2A at 15V.

Any idea?

Ohad.

Hello Ohad,

Computing for your EN/UVLO divider resistor gives around 1.15V drop at 9V input. The drop should be >1.2V to turn on the device. Maybe try adjusting the UVLO resistors more and take in to account the hysteresis and tolerances.

Regards,

Jhun

  • Thanks for reply.
    Even with EN/UVLO at 6V or EN tied to Vin, it still the same.  The converter cannot supply the needed power

  • Some more info:

    At Vin > 10.8V, switching signal to gate is ~2MHz . At low load (~100mA) it has low duty cycle, and while increasing load to ~2A, duty cycle gets higher.

    At Vin < 10.8V, when load is low, ~100mA, switching signal to gate is 2MHz, with low duty cycle, and while increasing load to ~2A switching frequency decrease to 750KHz and voltage output drops down.
    If I cycle the load, after several cycles it switches to 2MHz and works fine.

    Ohad

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember on Feb 1, 2023 1:53 AM in reply to ohadm
    0

    Hello,

    Can you try removing the capacitors you have in parallel with your feedback dividers and see if this improves? Also you have a high DCR on your inductor, have you tried simulating your design? If not, please do so. Thank you.

    Regards,

    Jhun

  • Hello,

    1. You have used a 40V FET -> in a SEPIC the Switch does see the sum of VIN and VOUT, hence 51V at 36V Vin -> You need a 60V FET. And the diode has to be a 60V type as well.

    2 With my approach LTpowerCAD suggests a Sense resistor of 4.7mOhm. You have chosen 8mOhm, hence you limit the possible output power at lower VIN.