PDM Installation & Configuration: Paralleling Outputs
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Paralleling Outputs
03.21
| 00:00 | - An excellent feature that many PMUs have is being able to configure multiple output channels to operate in parallel. |
| 00:07 | What this means is that you're able to connect a single device or load to multiple output channels and configure the PMU to always switch those output channels in response to the same input conditions. |
| 00:19 | Essentially combining them into a single channel with an overall higher maximum current rating. |
| 00:24 | The reason some PMUs include this feature is to increase their flexibility. |
| 00:28 | Instead of having 4 20 amp capable outputs, the PMU can have 8 10 amp capable ouputs and if a device draws more than 10 amps, 2 of these channels can be parallel together. |
| 00:41 | This gives more channels overall that can be controlled individually. |
| 00:45 | High power MOSFETs are relatively expensive and by using 2 lower power units, the build cost of a PMU can also be reduced. |
| 00:54 | The implementation of paralleling outputs like this varies with the PMU manufacturer and you need to make sure your PMU supports this feature. |
| 01:03 | You can't simply configure two separate output channels to have the same input switching conditions and then just connect them to the same load. |
| 01:11 | This will likely confuse the PMU current monitoring logic as there'll always be a slight delay between one channel turning on and the other. |
| 01:18 | This delay might cause a current limit to be inadvertently tripped or other unexpected results. |
| 01:25 | Related to output paralleling are PMUs that have a single output channel MOSFET connected to 2 physical pins on the connector. |
| 01:33 | This is similar to paralleling 2 output channels but is a permanent connection, not something configurable in the software. |
| 01:41 | The reason for this is that often the maximum output channel current is limited by the physical connector that's being used. |
| 01:48 | It'll have a maximum continuous current rating per pin and the PMU shouldn't exceed this. |
| 01:53 | By connecting the output channel to 2 physical pins, that available current can double. |
| 01:59 | In either situation, whether you've configured outputs to operate in parallel or if you're using a PMU that has a single channel connected to 2 pins, you need to make sure that the load connected to each pin on that connector is as balanced as possible. |
| 02:14 | If you're connecting just a single device to an output channel that has two physical pins, you can bring the wires from those pins together into a splice and then have the other side of that splice connect to the device with an appropriately sized larger gauge wire. |
| 02:29 | If the output channel is supplying multiple devices like 8 injectors for example, you could have 4 injectors powered from each pin and this would ensure that that load is balanced. |
| 02:40 | In this course module, we've looked at PMU output paralleling. |
| 02:43 | This is a feature implemented in some PMUs to allow 2 or more channels to be combined into a single higher current channel. |
| 02:51 | The PMU must support this feature specifically and it needs to be configured in the software. |
| 02:57 | Some PMUs have single output channels connected to multiple connector pins permanently, allowing those channels to output a higher overall current than a single connector pin could handle. |
| 03:09 | When paralleling output channels or using a single channel that has multiple pins, the current flowing through each connector pin must be kept as balanced as possible. |
