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DRV8837: Control of a solenoid using DRV8837, DRV8838...

Part Number: DRV8837
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: DRV8838, , DRV8870, DRV8803, DRV8860, DRV8871, DRV8823

OK, here goes - testing the friendliness of the Motor Driver region of E2E... (ha!)  New to Power Management and Motor Drives, so may ask some noob questions - bear with me. Am beginning my studies.

The Need: I'd like to incorporate control of a solenoid into a design which will likely be based on the MSP432E family. Plan is to drive design power over PoE, so will have 48V available at the start.

Part of the design will drive a solenoid - requirements are ~12v @ < 1 amp for 2-3 seconds.

Will one of these parts - DRV8837, DRV8838 - get me there? Other componentry in the mix? Overview design advice will be appreciated.

  • Hi LouEEEE!,

    The DRV8837, DRV8838 will not get you there. The absolute maximum voltage for these devices is 12V.

    There are many other devices that should work, but there are several questions to help narrow your choices.
    1) Do you intended to drive the solenoid at 100% duty cycle (full current) for the 2-3 seconds?
    2) After the 2-3 seconds, what do you intend to do?
    3) Do you need the 12V just for the solenoid? If so, you may be able to remove the 12V by using current regulation

    There are a few devices to look at initially
    For 12V supply
    DRV8870 use both outputs to control the solenoid
    DRV8803 low side only
    DRV8860 low side with ability to reduce current after a specified time
  • Rick, thanks for your insights...

    I'd looked at the 'standard'(?) transistor/schottky diode approach to this - though I'd still have to step down to 12v elsewhere, right? I was hoping to find an approach somewhat more elegant. I will check through the parts you propose.

    Meanwhile: The 'solenoid' represents any of a number of door lock - and similar - devices.

    1) Do you intended to drive the solenoid at 100% duty cycle (full current) for the 2-3 seconds?

    Haven't yet been able to test current load/duration in situ; in a real setting. But I suspect not fully 100% for 3 seconds. And these things activate at more like 0.5A

    2) After the 2-3 seconds, what do you intend to do?

    Simply cut the voltage; disconnect the device. IE, no reversal of polarity needed.

    3) Do you need the 12V just for the solenoid? If so, you may be able to remove the 12V by using current regulation

    For the moment, yes. But want to understand the foodchain, as it might make sense for other potential adds to the design.

  • Hi LouEEEE!,

    Thanks for your conditions. You can run a solenoid at higher voltage as long as the current is controlled to the maximum rated current.

    At 48V, you options are limited because you would need external circuitry to control the current.
    At 24V and below, you have many options that have one, two or four full bridges. These have built in current regulation allowing you to possibly reduce the number of supplies in your system.

    The DRV8871 has integrated current sensing which limits the current.
    Another possible option is the DRV8823 which has 4 full bridges and a serial interface.
    A more comprehensive list can be found here: www.ti.com/.../products.html