TMP468: Compatible remote transistor/diodes

Lorenzo Marcantonio

Part Number: TMP468
Most if not all the remote temperature junction sensors are designed for the 3904/3906 junction, it seems. Probably it's an industry standard for chip manufacturers for 'on die' temperature sensing. However I want to use something similar for monitoring the temperature of heat sinks (it's an audio power amplifier with many channels) so while the MMBT3904 can be useful for the board temperature it's not practical to attach to the sink (the 2N3904 is in TO92 which is a little better but need to be glued. Ideally I'm wanting something to be bolted like a TO220 or a TO126... can I apply something like a cheap power component as a remote junction or the process parameters are too much different?

over 8 years ago

0 Kelvin Le THS over 8 years ago

TI__Expert 7855 points

Lorenzo,

The remote thermal junction has to be a bipolar p-n junction. The sensor's algorithm assumes a certain remote p-n junction so you can't just use any power component.

-kelvin

0 Lorenzo Marcantonio over 8 years ago in reply to Kelvin Le THS

Prodigy 190 points

I feared that... I don't need a lot of precision, I'll try the evaluation board to see if results are satisfying. Thanks for the advice

0 Kelvin Le THS over 8 years ago in reply to Lorenzo Marcantonio

TI__Expert 7855 points

Lorenzo,

It will depend on the IV characteristics of your remote sensors. If it's different than the IV characteristics of the recommended remote sensors then expect a different result.

-Kelvin

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TMP468: Compatible remote transistor/diodes