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TPS2373: Non-isolated design VCIN configuration

Part Number: TPS2373
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: TPS2372

Hi,

My application uses a Non-isolated design. I do not use VCOUT and have terminated it with a 0.1UF capacitor.

A) When VCIN is not powered, that is it being terminated to just a 0.1uF capacitor, The TPS2373-4 chip is able to complete the hardware handshake and enable desired power output of PSE. But without VCIN there is nothing at signal TPH, TPL, BT and PG. 

B) Since our application needs to identify PSE class and allocated power, we need TPH/TPL/BT signals and so we have biased VCIN using VDD-Resistor-ZENER(9.3V). But after this operation TPS2373 chip stops responding and does not perform handshaking and is not able to enable power output of PSE. Even after restoring to previous state the TPS2373 chip doesnt seem to work.

This was done in a custom circuit and not EVM. Our circuit doesn't have the isolation transformer or PWM controller but everything around TPS2373 is the same as in EVM. The application performs handshaking, enables PSE power output, An MCU which is powered by a battery and does not draw power from POE or VCOUT power outputs reads TPH/TPL/BT/PG.

Our questions are,

1) Has VDD-Resistor-Zener connection to power VCIN been tested by TI? Would you be able to share a schematics circuit to show how its been implemented in a non-isolated application.

2) If so, what is the bias voltage needed there? Datasheet specifies a voltage above 8.5V is enough.

3)Is there any documented case of TPS2373 going bad when applying VCIN in a non-isolated application?

  • Hi Jithin,

    Thanks for reaching out.

    Sorry that the PoE team has traveling and multiple works in list recently. Please expect a delay on the E2E reply. 

    Best regards,

    Diang

  • Hi Jithin,

    Thanks for your patience.

    For BT non-isolated application, TPS2372 is more recommended than TPS2373 since it does not have the start-up circuit (VC_IN and VC_OUT pins). Please refer to TPS2372-4EVM (https://www.ti.com/tool/TPS2372-4EVM-006) for the TPH/TPL/BT connection.

    If you use TPS2373 here, there are two things you could try:

    1. If you do not use VC_OUT / VC_IN pin for any uses (including TPH/TPL/BT), you can use a R divider or Zener + R to set VC_IN-RTN about 10-15V from VDD-RTN. Then you can use VDD-RTN to drive TPH/TPL/BT.

    2. If you want to use VC_OUT / VC_IN pin, you can add a LDO or related regulator to convert a ~12-V VC_IN-RTN from VDD-RTN.

    Best regards,

    Diang