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Puglife
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ok, Thank you very much for your time. Thanks!Hesch said:
Can I Use Parallel Buck Converters to Achieve Higher Amperage?
- Thread starter Puglife
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the feasibility of using multiple 1A buck converters in parallel to achieve a total output of 5A for a specific application. Participants explore the technical challenges, potential solutions, and risks associated with this approach, including the concept of thermal runaway and methods to mitigate it.
Discussion Character
- Technical explanation
- Debate/contested
- Exploratory
Main Points Raised
- Some participants propose using multiple 1A buck converters in parallel to achieve the desired 5A output, emphasizing the need for a common controller to balance the load.
- Others argue that without a controller, differences in performance among the converters could lead to overheating and thermal runaway.
- A suggestion is made to use voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) and a microprocessor to manage the output pulses to each converter.
- Concerns are raised about the risks of thermal runaway, which could occur if one converter draws more current due to temperature variations.
- Participants discuss the possibility of calibrating each converter using potentiometers to prevent thermal runaway, but some express skepticism about the effectiveness of this approach.
- One participant suggests that limiting the input voltage might prevent thermal runaway, but another counters that even slight voltage variations could trigger issues.
- Alternative solutions are proposed, such as using current limiters with each converter to manage the total output current effectively.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally agree on the challenges of using multiple converters in parallel and the risks of thermal runaway. However, there is no consensus on the best approach to mitigate these risks or whether it is feasible to use the converters without a controller.
Contextual Notes
Limitations include the assumption that all converters will behave identically under load, which may not be the case due to manufacturing variances. The discussion also highlights the complexity of designing a system that can safely distribute current among multiple converters.
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