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TPS60401: Output Capacitor ESR spec

Part Number: TPS60401

Hello,

According to TPS60401 datasheet & EVM user's guide, Only ceramic capacitor is recommended due to ESR.

But I cannot find allowed ESR values.

Is there maximum ESR value of Input/Output capacitor ?

Regards,

Nicky 

  • Hi Nicky,

    Any ceramic with a decent dielectric (X5R or X7R or similar) have sufficiently low ESR.
  • Hi Chris,

    Could you explain why it recommends low ESR capacitor? only for reducing ripple or to protect from IC damage?
    If I use high ESR capacitor like as Tantal, what kind of symptom is occurred? Can it make IC dead or mulfunction?

    Please let me get your answer.

    Regards,
    Nicky
  • Hi Nicky,

    There is a detailed discussion of the effect of output capacitor ESR in the D/S. Clearly, ESR increases the output impedance which reduces the output voltage and lowers efficiency. The device has not been tested with non-ceramic capacitors.

    As well, higher ESR caps are larger, more expensive, and less reliable. Why do you want to use one?
  • Hi Chris,

    Which condition can make TPS60401 to do not work or make it dead?
    Customer used Tantal capacitor on output of TPS60401, and it doesn't work.
    But other solutions don't have this kind of symptom.

    Regards,
    Nicky
  • Hi Nicky,

    If you have a specific debugging issue, please post your schematic, BOM, and PCB layout and any waveforms which show an issue. As well, please explain what 'doesn't work' means in this specific case.

    The higher impedance on the switching nets from capacitors, PCB trace, etc. can cause excessive voltage spikes which can damage any switching converter.