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Simple Battery Circuit Extends PoE Peak Current (Design Note 361)

Design note describing a circuit using the LTC4267 and LTC4055 to supplement PoE power with a battery for high peak current loads like disk drives or RF transmitters.

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Overview

This design note details a compact power management solution for Power over Ethernet (PoE) applications that require peak currents exceeding standard PoE limits. It utilizes the LTC4267, which combines a PoE Powered Device (PD) interface with an isolated flyback converter to generate a 5V supply. The LTC4055 PowerPath controller manages the battery charging of a single Li-Ion cell and provides seamless power switching. When system demand exceeds the PoE power capability, the battery automatically supplements the supply. This configuration is ideal for handling transient loads such as disk drive spin-up or sustained RF transmissions without triggering PoE current limits.

Use Cases

  • Disk drive spin-up in PoE devices
  • RF transmitter peak power management
  • High transient load PoE applications
  • Battery-backed Ethernet powered devices

Topics

Power over Ethernet
PoE
LTC4267
LTC4055
PowerPath
Li-Ion Battery Charger
Peak Current
Flyback Converter
Powered Device

Referenced Parts

LTC3407-2

Linear Technology

and/or the LTC3407-2 dual buck regulators.

LTC3443

Linear Technology

Recommended DC/DC converters to generate logic supplies in this application include the LTC3443 buck-boost

LTC4055

Linear Technology

In Figure 1, the LTC4055 provides triple PowerPath control and Li-Ion battery charging.

LTC4267

Linear Technology

The LTC ®4267 simplifies the design of PDs by providing wholesale implementation of the protocol and power management functions.

LTC4411

Linear Technology

the diode D9 can be replaced with the LTC4411 ideal diode for more efficient operation.

SMB540

Diodes Incorporated

D1 SMB540

ZRL431

Diodes Incorporated

D8 ZRL431

UPS340

Microsemi

D9 UPS340

PA1134

Pulse Electronics

T1 PA1134

PS2911

Renesas

PS2911

Si3440DV

Vishay

Q1 Si3440DV

HD01

Diodes Incorporated

AC2 HDO1