Tool/software:
Dear Team,
I am currently designing a system powered by two Lithium Thionyl Chloride cells (3.6V each) connected in parallel to a load with a maximum current draw of 100mA. I am considering using two TPS22916 load switches in parallel for reverse current protection and load sharing, as recommended in a TI E2E forum post (link).
However, I have some concerns regarding the Reverse Current Blocking (RCB) mechanism of the TPS22916:
- The RCB feature only activates when Vout > Vin and the reverse current exceeds 500mA.
- If the reverse current is below 500mA, current may still flow back into the source, which could be problematic since Lithium Thionyl Chloride cells cannot safely accept reverse current.
Given this limitation, I believe the TPS22916 alone may not provide sufficient protection and that an external diode (e.g., Schottky diode) might be necessary to ensure complete reverse current blocking.
Could you please provide your insights on:
- Whether the TPS22916 in parallel configuration is safe for this application?
- If an additional diode is recommended to enhance protection?
- Any alternative solutions or best practices for this design?
Thank you for your time and expertise. I look forward to your feedback.
Best regards, Damon
