I don't quite understand what this means? Does that mean if the input voltage is 60v, it WOULD destroy Q4 because the gate would see 70v? Or is it because the +10v at the P-MOS would destroy it (as the P-MOS expects to only see negative voltages)?
WRT 2.png...
The MAX6397 will produce a voltage on its GATE output that is +10V above IN in order to turn on Q2; an N-FET.
With a greater than +10V IN and SW2 closed, Q4 gate to source voltage would exceed the usual ±20 Vgs maximum allowed (see device specific datasheet).
Regardless if Q2 is on, there is a resistor to RES (+3.3V) which may still be way below the GATE output (couldn't find in the datasheet GATE to GND voltage in OV state, although not sure about "GATE pulls low when SHDN is low." on page 7).
So, it's not because Q4 P-FET saw positive voltages. It's that it went above its Vgs maximum (at least when Q2 is on).
I don't expect it to; I was thinking to simply flip SW1 to trigger it into the correct state (essentially waiting for OVP).
Do you recommend me going with the S-R latch to add latching to the MAX6397 circuit, or should I go another route?
Upon power up, if a particular state isn't assured then the SR-latch may default to shutting down the MAX6397 even though there was no overvoltage condition yet.
ie. may intermittently require a reset button press on power up. This can be annoying.
Do I recommend an SR-latch?
It depends on your... costs and number of components (minimum complexity). I think it can be made to work. See below.
Okay so is this essentially what I would need to do to enable latching of the MAX6397?
Unfortunately, my previous simulation isn't quite right. If Q2 state is off (in overvoltage state; switch is open), that keeps the SET line low in the SR-latch.
The circuit should really only trigger a momentary low (on switch open) since an extended low condition will keep the reset switch from doing its job (via N-FET blocking the reset switch).
Forcing a reset won't work either since that breaks the two simultaneous low inputs rule (invalid state for NAND SR-latches).
I've since modified the
simulation to add an RC network and it seems to work. See below for a screenshot of the moment Q2 is open; sending a momentary low to the SET line. When the reset momentary is pressed, SR-latch is reset and the SHDN goes high resulting in Q2 closing if the overvoltage state has passed (or Q2 will close when it eventually passes). Although, there is a tiny chance of invalid SR-latch state if the reset button is held while an overvoltage state occurs.
Notice the 12V zener protecting the N-FET gate from exceeding Vgs due to post Q2 voltage (OUT).
Although it needs testing, I think the RESET line of the SR-latch can be directly connected to the POK output to assure the SR-latch is properly reset on power up. Page 7 of datasheet: "POK: Open-Drain Output. POK remains low until REG exceeds 92.5% or 87.5% of REG nominal output voltage."