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Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: TheHippySeal on March 16, 2012, 11:23:55 pm

Title: Current Limiting Resisters
Post by: TheHippySeal on March 16, 2012, 11:23:55 pm
Hi guys. How do I figure out if a device needs a current limiting resister on VCC or GND? Atmel micros don't seem need one on either, only the inputs or outputs. Is this the same for all ICs? The device I need to know at the moment is this Schmitt trigger.

http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/sn74ls14.pdf (http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/sn74ls14.pdf)

In my circuit the trigger input comes from an external source, then the trigger output goes to the micro input. Should I put the resister before or after the Schmitt trigger?

Cheers.
Title: Re: Current Limiting Resisters
Post by: Psi on March 16, 2012, 11:39:02 pm
I dont quite understand why you'd want a current limit on vcc

The micro will only draw the current it needs under normal conditions. So you don't need a limiting resistor in series with vcc.

If you're worried about overloading the micro controller outputs then you can current limit individual pins with a resistor so the short circuit current cannot get above the maximum.
Title: Re: Current Limiting Resisters
Post by: TheHippySeal on March 16, 2012, 11:48:30 pm
Thanks for the reply. So micros are like that, but what about other ICs? Particularly that Schmitt trigger.
Title: Re: Current Limiting Resisters
Post by: Psi on March 17, 2012, 12:10:26 am
Thanks for the reply. So micros are like that, but what about other ICs? Particularly that Schmitt trigger.

I cant say i've ever seen a IC that requires a resistor in series with VCC.
You just supply the IC with a voltage that is within its valid supply range given in the datasheet.
Title: Re: Current Limiting Resisters
Post by: TheHippySeal on March 17, 2012, 03:14:17 am
Ok. Thanks for the info.
Title: Re: Current Limiting Resisters
Post by: andyg on March 17, 2012, 03:34:32 am
If you really want to limit the current draw on VCC due to say a fault, then you can use a PTC Resettable Fuse at VCC's source.
Title: Re: Current Limiting Resisters
Post by: wkb on March 17, 2012, 07:37:12 am
If you really want to limit the current draw on VCC due to say a fault, then you can use a PTC Resettable Fuse at VCC's source.

If you need fuses in the supply line of a single digital IC or MCU it is dead already anyway  8)

Series resistors in supply lines of digital ICs I have never seen.  You would not like the end result anyway, as it limits
the speed of the IC and it could also make the logic levels go haywire.