Datasheet

VNH3SP30, VNH2SP30, and VNH5019 Comparison
In addition to this VNH5019 carrier, we offer carrier boards for two similar, older motor drivers from
ST: the VNH3SP30 and the VNH2SP30. The VNH5019 is the only one of the three with a practical
operating voltage above 16 V, and it is the only one that works with 3 V logic.
The current-related values in the table below (i.e. the entries to which footnote 3 applies) are the results
of tests on only or two of each driver version, so they do not capture potential unit-to-unit variation. As
such, the values should be treated as rough estimates of performance, not as performance guarantees.
While these tests seem to indicate that the VNH2SP30 runs a bit cooler—and hence can deliver more
continuous current—than the VNH5019, it is important to note that the three driver versions were
tested at different times under potentially different conditions, so the results are not necessarily accurate
indications of relative performance.
In our tests, we noticed that the thermal protection on the VNH5019 was activating at a lower
temperature (153°C) than on the VNH2SP30 (170°C), which could partially account for the shorter
VNH5019 overheating times. However, we also observed that the VNH5019 was reaching slightly
higher temperatures than the VNH2SP30 when used under the same conditions: the VNH5019 reached
a temperature of 85°C after 3 minutes at 10 A while the VNH2SP30 reached a temperature of 80°C.
The following table offers a comparison of the three drivers:
VNH3SP30
VNH2SP30 VNH5019
Operating voltage: (1) 5.5 – 16 V (2) 5.5 – 16 V 5.5 – 24 V
MOSFET on-resistance (per
leg):
34 mΩ typ. 19 mΩ max. 18 mΩ typ.
Max PWM frequency 10 kHz 20 kHz 20 kHz
Current sense n/a 0.13 V/A 0.21 V/A
Over-voltage shutoff
36 V min. (2) / 43 V
typ.
16 V min. / 19 V
typ.
24 V min. / 27 V typ.
Logic input high threshold 3.25 V min. 3.25 V min. 2.1 V min.
Time to overheat at 20 A (3) 8 s 35 s 20 s
Time to overheat at 15 A (3) 30 s 150 s 90 s
Current for infinite run time (3) 9 A 14 A 12 A
1 The VNH3SP30 can survive input voltages up to 40 V, and the VNH2SP30 and VNH5019 can
survive input voltages up to 41 V, but the over-voltage shutoff will kick in at lower voltages.
2 While VNH3SP30’s over-voltage shutoff doesn’t activate until 36 V, in our experience, shoot-through
currents make PWM operation impractical above 16 V.
3 Typical results using the Pololu motor driver carrier boards with 100% duty cycle at room
temperature (with no forced airflow or heat sinking beyond the carrier PCB).