Glossary · Motion control and drives
Thermal shutdown
Also known as: Overtemperature protection, Overtemperature shutdown
German: Übertemperaturabschaltung
In power electronics, thermal shutdown is a built-in function of a driver or IC that switches off the power stage when its junction temperature exceeds a threshold, often after an earlier overtemperature warning, and allows restart only after it has cooled down.
- Motion control
In one sentence
Thermal shutdown switches off a driver's power stage when the chip gets too hot, often after a warning, until it has cooled down.
Example
In a closed housing without airflow, the stepper driver of a ticket printer reaches 150 °C junction temperature and shuts down; the printer reports an overtemperature error.
How it applies
- Engineering: Thermal shutdown protects the chip; heat sinking, PCB copper area, current settings and ambient temperature decide whether it is ever reached. It doesn't protect the motor, which needs its own Motor protection.
- Commissioning: Run the application at maximum ambient temperature and duty cycle and check that the overtemperature warning doesn't appear.
- Operation: The motor stops without warning to the mechanics; position and holding torque may be lost.
- Documentation: State the permitted ambient temperature and installation conditions (ventilation, mounting). Describe thermal shutdown as equipment protection, not as a Safety function, and give the operator a remedy (let it cool, check ventilation, reduce load) instead of only an error code.