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Home / FAQTECHNICAL ARTICLES / AN OVERVIEW OF POWER SUPPLY PROTECTIONS

An Overview of Power Supply Protections

In electronic systems, the protection functions within a power supply play a critical role in maintaining overall system stability. Current and voltage protection mechanisms effectively safeguard devices from damage due to abnormal rises in current or voltage. In real-world applications, when load current exceeds the power supply’s rated capacity, appropriate protection mechanisms prevent component overheating or failure, ensuring safe and reliable system operation. This article explores various common over-voltage and over-current protection technologies, helping users select optimal solutions for peak performance.


1. Types of Protection Features


(1)  Short-Circuit Protection (SCP)

Short-circuit protection is a critical function in power supplies designed to prevent sudden current surges caused by short circuits. When a short circuit occurs at the output, the power supply immediately cuts off the current flow, protecting internal components from overheating or damage. This feature is essential in systems requiring high reliability, as it effectively reduces the risk of equipment damage.

(2)  Over-Current Protection (OCP)

Over-current protection is intended to guard against abnormal increases in load current that could harm internal components. When the load current exceeds the rated limit, the OCP mechanism either restricts the current or shuts down the power, thereby ensuring equipment safety.

(3)  Over-Voltage Protection (OVP)

Over-voltage protection prevents high output voltages from damaging connected devices. Abnormal output voltage can result from internal regulation failures or external voltage fluctuations. This protection feature effectively maintains voltage within a safe range, ensuring stable system operation.

(4)  Over-Temperature Protection (OTP)

Over-temperature protection helps prevent excessive heat buildup due to prolonged high loads or poor ventilation, safeguarding internal components and supporting stable system operation. This mechanism is especially beneficial in high-load application environments.

2. Short-Circuit Protection (SCP)


Short-circuit protection is an essential safeguard in power supplies, designed to prevent damage from current spikes caused by a short circuit on the load side. When a short circuit occurs, output current surges dramatically, forcing internal components to handle currents beyond their design limits. Without prompt protection, this can lead to overheating, component damage, or even catastrophic failure. Thus, short-circuit protection must be designed to respond quickly and reliably to prevent sudden current surges from causing harm.

(1)  Common Causes of Short Circuits:

A. Improper Wiring: Miswiring, such as reversed polarity or poor connections at the output, can lead to a rapid current increase, causing a short circuit.
B. Load Equipment Failure: A fault within the load device may result in a sudden current surge, triggering a short circuit.
C. Environmental Factors: Moisture, dust, and corrosion can degrade circuit boards, potentially leading to short circuits.
D. Internal Component Failure: Failures within internal components, like capacitors or damaged PCBs, can also cause short circuits.

(2)  Risks Posed by Short Circuits:

Without effective short-circuit protection, a sudden current surge can quickly cause overheating, subjecting components to overload and increasing the likelihood of damage or even combustion. This excessive heat can permanently damage critical internal components, potentially resulting in the complete failure of the power supply, thereby compromising system stability and safety. If the current continues to rise unchecked, it can create localized high temperatures, increasing fire risk and posing a safety hazard to nearby equipment and users. Thus, short-circuit protection not only safeguards the power system but also protects the load equipment and overall system security.

(3)  Preventing Short Circuits:

To prevent short circuits and protect both the power supply and load equipment, consider implementing the following preventive measures:

A. Wiring Inspection: Ensure correct wiring at the power supply output during installation to avoid reversed polarity or poor connections, and regularly inspect the wiring for any issues.
B. Load Equipment Monitoring: Regularly assess the operational status of load equipment to detect and address potential internal faults that could lead to abnormal current increases, effectively reducing the risk of short circuits.
C. Environmental Maintenance: Keep circuit boards dry and clean to prevent the accumulation of dust, moisture, and corrosive substances, which can lower the likelihood of short circuits.
D. Internal Component Integrity: Failures such as capacitor shorts or PCB damage can also cause short circuits, so maintaining component integrity is essential.
E. High-Quality Design: Tiger Power’s power supplies incorporate high-quality components and reliable circuit designs to reduce the risk of short circuits stemming from internal component failures, ensuring system stability and safety.

These preventive measures not only reduce short-circuit risk but also extend power supply lifespan and enhance overall system reliability.

(4)  Protection Modes Designed to Meet Customer Needs:

Tiger Power’s power supplies are equipped with real-time short-circuit protection mechanisms that activate immediately when output current exceeds the rated limit due to a short circuit, protecting equipment from damage due to current surges. This protection is ideal for high-reliability applications, such as in industrial or communications settings, enhancing equipment safety and lifespan. Tiger Power offers the following protection modes based on specific needs:

A. Auto Recovery Mode (also known as Hiccup Mode): When a short circuit is detected, the power supply automatically shuts off and enters a waiting state, restarting after a set period and resuming output voltage. If the short circuit persists, the power supply will cycle between shut-off and restart until the issue is resolved. This mode reduces overheating risk and extends power supply lifespan, suitable for data centers, communications, and similar applications.

B. Latch-Off Mode: Upon detecting a short circuit, the power supply immediately cuts off power and remains off until manually reset, making it suitable for environments with high peak power demands or stringent safety requirements, ensuring safe, stable operation of the power supply and load equipment under controlled conditions.

3. Over-Current Protection (OCP)


Over-current protection is a critical safety feature in power supplies, designed to prevent load currents from exceeding the supply’s rated output. When the load current exceeds the design limits, it places excessive stress on internal components, potentially leading to overheating, component damage, or even total failure of the power supply. Therefore, over-current protection must be designed to be immediate and reliable to prevent current surges and ensure equipment safety.

(1)  Common Causes of Over-Current:

A. Excessive Load: When the connected load demand exceeds the power supply’s maximum output current, an over-current situation will occur.
B. Equipment Failure: Internal faults or leakage in the load equipment may cause abnormal increases in current.
C. Multiple Load Conditions: Multiple devices running at full load simultaneously may cause the total current to exceed the rated output of the power supply.

(2)  Risks of Over-Current:

If over-current is not controlled promptly, it can cause severe damage to both the power supply and the load equipment. Over-current can overload internal components (such as capacitors, diodes, etc.), leading to overheating, burnout, or permanent damage. Prolonged over-current can shorten the lifespan of the power supply and increase maintenance or replacement costs. Continuous over-current may also result in localized overheating, increasing the fire risk and endangering surrounding equipment and user safety. Therefore, over-current protection is essential not only for the power supply but also to ensure the safety and stability of the load equipment and the entire system.

(3)  Preventing Over-Current:

Preventive measures include ensuring that the total load current does not exceed the rated output current of the power supply. When selecting a power supply, it is recommended to choose one with a rated power 20% to 50% higher than the peak load demand for enhanced stability. Additionally, appropriately distributing the equipment’s current requirements can help avoid exceeding the rated range. Regularly checking the load equipment’s condition helps detect and address potential leakage or faults early, especially in critical applications such as networking, industrial, and medical systems where over-current protection is vital for immediate protection when abnormal load conditions arise.

(4)  Protection Mode Design Based on

Customer Requirements:
Tiger Power’s power supplies are equipped with real-time over-current protection mechanisms that activate when the output current exceeds the rated value, preventing excessive currents from damaging the power supply. This mechanism effectively prevents component damage or system failure while ensuring stable operation of both the supply and the load equipment. Li-Yi offers the following two protection modes tailored to different application needs:

A. Auto Recovery Mode (Hiccup Mode): When over-current is detected, the power supply automatically shuts down and enters a waiting state. After a preset time, it restarts and resumes output. If the over-current condition persists, the supply will repeatedly shut down and restart until the issue is resolved. This mode reduces the risk of overheating and extends the lifespan, making it ideal for applications in data centers, communications, and more.

B. Latch Off Mode: In the event of over-current, the latch-off protection cuts off the power supply and maintains the off state. A manual reset is required to restart the power supply. This mode is suited for environments with high peak power demands or high safety requirements, ensuring the stability and safety of both the power supply and the load equipment.

4. Over-Voltage Protection (OVP)


Over-voltage protection is a crucial mechanism in power supplies, designed to prevent excessive output voltage and protect connected equipment from damage. Stable voltage supply is critical for high-performance and high-precision equipment. Over-voltage can be caused by internal faults or external environmental factors, significantly affecting the operation of the equipment. Therefore, power supplies must be equipped with reliable over-voltage protection to ensure long-term system stability.

(1)  Common Causes of Over-Voltage:

A. Internal Faults: When the voltage regulation system malfunctions, it may cause the output voltage to exceed the preset range.
B. Failure of Isolation Components: If the isolation components at the output end fail and the parallel power supply system experiences fluctuations, the output voltage can spike.
C. Inductive Load Effects: Inductive loads (such as motors or transformers) can generate transient high voltages during startup or shutdown due to electromagnetic reactions, potentially causing the output voltage to increase suddenly.

(2)  Risks of Over-Voltage:

Continuous over-voltage can have severe effects on both the power supply and the load equipment. High voltage can damage sensitive electronic components, leading to equipment failure or circuit burnout. For critical equipment (such as servers or industrial control systems), over-voltage may cause irreversible damage, shorten the equipment’s lifespan, and potentially result in large-scale downtime, leading to significant financial losses. Failure to control over-voltage promptly may also lead to overheating of internal components, increasing the fire risk and endangering surrounding equipment and user safety. Therefore, over-voltage protection is a key mechanism to ensure the safe operation of both power supplies and load equipment.

(3)  Preventing Over-Voltage:

To prevent over-voltage, it is essential to select high-quality power supplies with over-voltage protection and ensure that they meet the load requirements. For equipment with high voltage stability demands, reliable over-voltage protection can reduce risks and extend the lifespan of the equipment. Additionally, regular inspection and maintenance of load equipment can help detect potential issues that may lead to over-voltage. Custom over-voltage protection solutions, tailored to the specific needs of various equipment, can provide stable voltage protection under different operating conditions.

(4)  Protection Mode Design Based on Customer Requirements:

Tiger Power’s power supplies are equipped with real-time monitoring over-voltage protection mechanisms. When the output voltage exceeds the rated range, the protection is activated to prevent over-voltage from affecting the equipment. This protection mechanism effectively prevents component damage or system failure caused by transient voltage anomalies, ensuring system and load equipment stability. Tiger Power offers the following two over-voltage protection modes based on different application needs:

A. Auto Recovery Mode (Hiccup Mode): When over-voltage is detected, the power supply automatically shuts down and enters a waiting state. After a preset time, it restarts and restores the output voltage. If the over-voltage condition persists, the supply will repeatedly shut down and restart until the issue is resolved. This mode reduces the risk of overheating and extends the lifespan of the power supply.

B. Latch Off Mode: When latch-off protection is triggered, the power supply immediately cuts off power and remains off. A manual reset is required after ensuring the safety of the power supply and load equipment. This mode is suitable for applications that require high safety, commonly found in data centers, networking, and communications equipment.

5. Over-Temperature Protection (OTP)


Over-temperature protection is another essential safety feature in power supplies, designed to prevent overheating and protect both the power supply and connected equipment. Excessive temperature can lead to component failure, decreased efficiency, and even permanent damage. Therefore, reliable over-temperature protection mechanisms are critical to ensure safe operation and extend the lifespan of the system.

(1)  Common Causes of Over-Temperature:

A. Environmental Factors: When the operating environment temperature is too high or ventilation is insufficient, it can prevent the heat generated by the equipment from dissipating, leading to overheating.
B. High Load Operation: Extended operation under high load conditions generates excessive heat, exceeding the heat dissipation system’s capacity.
C. Failure of Cooling Components: Internal cooling components (such as fans or heat sinks) may fail or become obstructed, reducing the cooling effectiveness and causing overheating.
D. Component Failures: Malfunctions in components such as capacitors or resistors can generate excessive heat, triggering over-temperature conditions.

(2)  Risks of Over-Temperature:

Continuous over-temperature conditions can damage internal components, leading to system malfunction or failure. Excessive heat can degrade sensitive electronics and materials, potentially shortening the lifespan of the power supply and connected equipment. Furthermore, prolonged overheating may increase fire hazards, endangering surrounding equipment and personnel. Therefore, over-temperature protection is essential for maintaining the safety and reliability of power systems.

(3)  Preventing Over-Temperature:

To prevent over-temperature conditions, it is important to ensure that the power supply is installed in a well-ventilated area and that the ambient temperature is within the recommended range. Regular maintenance of cooling components, such as cleaning dust filters and ensuring proper airflow, can prevent heat buildup. Additionally, using power supplies with effective heat dissipation systems and selecting units with over-temperature protection features will reduce the risk of overheating.

(4)  Protection Mode Design Based on Customer Requirements:

Tiger Power’s power supplies feature real-time monitoring of over-temperature conditions. When the internal temperature exceeds safe limits, the protection mechanism is activated to prevent damage caused by excessive heat. Li-Yi offers the following protection modes for different applications:

A. Auto Recovery Mode (Hiccup Mode): When over-temperature is detected, the power supply shuts down and enters a waiting state. After a preset time, it automatically restarts and resumes operation. If over-temperature conditions persist, the power supply will repeatedly shut down and restart until the issue is resolved. This mode helps reduce the risk of thermal damage and extends the power supply’s service life.

B. Latch Off Mode: When over-temperature protection is triggered, the power supply immediately disconnects and stays off. A manual reset is required after ensuring that the system has cooled down. This mode is suitable for environments with high safety or reliability demands, such as data centers and industrial equipment.

6. Conclusion


The stability and safety of modern electronic devices are heavily reliant on the protective mechanisms of their power supplies. With well-designed protection features, power supplies can effectively handle unexpected events such as overcurrent, overvoltage, short circuits, and overheating, preventing damage caused by overloads or abnormal conditions. Selecting and designing an appropriate power protection solution requires a comprehensive approach, taking into account technologies like short-circuit protection, overcurrent protection, overvoltage protection, and thermal protection. These carefully crafted protection measures significantly enhance the stability and safety of systems, ensuring the reliable and consistent operation of electronic devices under a variety of working conditions.

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