5/19/16: Fundamentals of Operational Amplifiers

Question

Input protection - what happens to the current dumped by the steering iodes? Does that raise the Supply voltage above acceptable max values?

ADIApproved · Accepted Answer

The current will be shunted off to the supply through the steering diodes. Whether that current causes the supply voltage to increase will depend on the compliance of the supply and its rated load current. The current shunted to the supply is usually in the opposite sense to that being provided, so the loads will absorb a lot of it. Power supply devices can take a much greater surge current than op amps.)