Hello, guys. First topic in here, please be kind. Before I am start my program I've read some messages about circuit protect, like as LED lighting circuit protection. The situation is following:
I'm designing a Mosfet based switch that uses a low current reed switch to control either 24V or 12V LED strip lighting. Having some issues with the protection circuits. My specifications are as follows:
Operation as follows:
The goal is to keep the cost and complexity as low as possible. I've considered some options:
Thanks all advice.
I'm designing a Mosfet based switch that uses a low current reed switch to control either 24V or 12V LED strip lighting. Having some issues with the protection circuits. My specifications are as follows:
- 12-24V DC input
- 2A Max output current
- Reverse polarity protection
- Short circuit protection

Operation as follows:
- Input & output at the bottom left, MSTBA4.
- Switch connected top right SWT1
- Zener D1 ensures the gates are not driven above 15V to protect them from high voltage damage
- Q1 is connected in anti-series (drain to ground) and serves as reverse input protection, when reverse input the gate is pulled to ground through R1 turning Q1 off. During normal operation Q1 is turned on and bypasses its internal body diode.
- Q2 is the main switch, when the switch closes then Q2 is turned on and connects the load. (Low side switched)
- F1 is a Bourns MF-R250 PTC resetable fuse rated 30V 2.5A (trip current 5A) This is a problem as I will explain shortly.
- D2 is a Bidirectional TVS diode to absorb any transients.
The goal is to keep the cost and complexity as low as possible. I've considered some options:
- Add a comparator circuit for undervoltage protection. i.e. when input is <12V, pull Q2 gate to ground. > Problem here is even with hysteresis this causes the circuit to oscillate as the PSU recovers and then trips the protection again.
- Add over current protection with a current shunt and small op-amp + comparator to turn Q2 off. Again same problem with oscillation, also increases complexity.
Thanks all advice.