Overcurrent protection is an electronic overload protection circuit that is often specified in data sheets as OCP (= Overcurrent Protection) or OLP (=Overload Protection). The power supply as well as the connected loads are electronically protected against overload by limiting the output current to a maximum value. Power supplies differ in their overload behaviour.
You can: 1. continuously supply current 2. supply pulsed current (hiccup behaviour) or 3. switch off.
1. continuous current in case of overload: The output voltage is regulated back in case of overload according to a fixed output characteristic that the specified maximum current flows. The different current limiting characteristics are: (a) Fold-back (b) Constant Current (c) Fold-Forward
2. Pulsed current in case of overload (Hiccup behavior)
3. switch-off in case of overload: Usually the power supply has to be restarted by pressing a key or by switching the input voltage on and off.
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