TPS23521 - -10V to -80V Hot Swap Controller | Texas Instruments
MPN: TPS23521 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.29 | $6.29 |
| 10 | $5.65 | $56.50 |
| 100 | $5.1 | $510.00 |
| 500 | $4.55 | $2,275.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.1 | $4,100.00 |
TPS23521 Overview
A hot swap controller is a power management IC that safely connects and disconnects a load from a live power bus, limiting inrush current and preventing connector arcing and system glitches. It works with an external pass MOSFET, current sensing, and gate control, and belongs to the broader power management IC hierarchy alongside e-fuses and hot swap controllers.
Key features include a 200V absolute maximum rating for survivability during lightning surge tests per IEC61000-4-5, dual current limit with dual gate drive for independent control of two MOSFETs, and a soft start capacitor disconnect function that enables soft start at power-up while improving transient response in normal operation. The device operates over -40C to +85C and is RoHS compliant.
The TPS23521 uses a proprietary architecture providing precise current sensing and fast response to overcurrent faults. Its high-voltage capability and robust design make it well suited for harsh telecom environments with -48V battery plants, where input transients from lightning surge and hot swapping are common design challenges.
Typical applications include -48V hot swap in telecom rectifiers, network routers, Ethernet switches, and base station power distribution. With appropriate external MOSFETs, the dual gate drive supports high-current designs up to several hundred amps.
Design tip: choose the soft start capacitor to limit inrush current to safe MOSFET SOA levels, and provide low-inductance, thermally adequate PCB paths for the external pass devices. Pricing varies by package suffix and quantity; refer to authorized distributors for current stock and pricing as of 2026-08-30.
Drop-in alternatives for TPS23521 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with TPS23521 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Input Voltage Range.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
No drop-in alternatives available for this product.
Request AlternativesTPS23521 Specifications
| Function | Hot Swap Controller |
| Input Voltage Range | -10 V to -80 V |
| Number of Channels | 1 Channel |
| Current Limit | Dual current limit |
| Gate Drive | Dual gate drive (2 external N-MOSFETs) |
| Absolute Maximum Rating | 200 V |
| Surge Immunity | Designed to survive IEC61000-4-5 lightning surge tests |
| Soft-Start | Soft start cap disconnect function |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
| Typical Bus Voltage | -48 V |
| Package | 16-TSSOP (PWT/PWR) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Applications | Network Routers and Switches |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lifecycle Status | Active |
TPS23521 16-tssop (pwt/pwr) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for TPS23521 (16-tssop (pwt/pwr) package). Pin numbering, functions, and connection diagrams are defined in the manufacturer datasheet. Refer to it for the exact footprint and soldering guidelines.
No detailed pinout data available for TPS23521.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
TPS23521 is suitable for 6 applications: -48V Telecom Hot Swap, Network Routers and Switches, Base Station Power Distribution, Telecom Rectifier Systems, High-Availability Server and Storage Backplanes, Industrial -48V Power Protection.
-48V Telecom Hot Swap
The TPS23521 is purpose-built for -48V telecom power backplanes, operating from -10V to -80V with a 200V absolute maximum rating that survives IEC61000-4-5 lightning surge events. Its dual gate drive controls two external N-MOSFETs with dual current limit, enabling safe board insertion into live bays. Soft-start capacitor disconnect limits inrush at power-up yet restores full transient response in normal operation, meeting stringent telecom transient requirements per the TI datasheet.
Recommended
Network Routers and Switches
TI explicitly targets the TPS23521 at -48V network routers and Ethernet switches, where line cards are hot-inserted into live chassis. The dual current limit supports both fast circuit-breaker and slower thermal fault responses, protecting backplane connectors from arcing and sag. Dual gate drive allows redundancy or higher current sharing across two MOSFETs, while -40C to +85C operation covers central-office and outdoor cabinet environments.
Recommended
Base Station Power Distribution
In wireless base stations fed from -48V battery plants, the TPS23521 protects power-distribution boards from insertion faults and surge transients. The 200V absolute maximum rating gives generous headroom above the -80V operating ceiling for lightning-induced spikes per IEC61000-4-5. Sense-resistor-programmed current limits keep fault current inside the external MOSFET safe operating area, and the soft-start disconnect preserves dynamic response after startup.
Recommended
Telecom Rectifier Systems
High-power telecom rectifiers use hot swap controllers to modularize rectifier shelves. The TPS23521 dual gate drive enables controlled connection of rectifier modules to the -48V bus with independent current limiting on each MOSFET path, supporting several-hundred-amp designs with properly paralleled pass devices. Fast overcurrent response prevents connector damage during module faults, easing compliance with stringent shelf transient requirements.
Recommended
High-Availability Server and Storage Backplanes
Systems using negative-rail or -48V DC distribution for high-availability compute and storage benefit from the TPS23521 dual-path architecture: one controller supervises two MOSFETs for redundant feed protection or higher current sharing. The soft-start capacitor disconnect meets stringent transient requirements during load steps, and the 16-TSSOP footprint keeps protection circuitry compact on dense line cards.
Recommended
Industrial -48V Power Protection
Industrial installations that adopt -48V DC distribution (legacy telecom plants, utility monitoring) can use the TPS23521 as an electronic circuit breaker with dual current limit. The -10V to -80V input range tolerates battery float and equalize voltages, the 200V rating adds surge robustness, and programmable fault responses protect both wiring and external MOSFETs, reducing unplanned downtime in remote sites.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for TPS23521 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | TPS2393 | TPS2390 | TPS2391 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments |
| Gate Drives | Dual | Single | Single | Single |
| Current Limit | Dual current limit | Single | Single | Single |
| Drop-in Pin Compatible | N/A (reference) | No | No | No |
| Lifecycle Status | Active | Active | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Dual gate drive for two MOSFET paths (vs TPS2393)
- 200V absolute maximum rating (vs TPS2390)
- Soft-start capacitor disconnect (vs TPS2391)
Design Notes
Program the sense resistors so that both the fast current-limit trip point and the slow circuit-breaker threshold keep fault current within the external MOSFET safe operating area (SOA) at maximum -48V bus voltage. The dual current limit architecture lets you set different limits per MOSFET path, enabling redundancy schemes or higher aggregate current with paralleled devices.
While the TPS23521 itself dissipates little power, the external pass MOSFETs dominate thermal design. At several hundred amps through paralleled devices, compute Rds(on) losses at worst-case junction temperature and provide copper pours or heatsinking on the MOSFET drains and sources. Use the soft-start capacitor to stretch startup and avoid MOSFET linear-mode SOA violations during inrush.
Route the high-current -48V and load paths with wide, short traces and Kelvin-connect the sense resistor to the controller sense pins to avoid false current-limit tripping from parasitic drops. Place the TPS23521 close to the MOSFET gates to minimize gate-loop inductance, and add local decoupling per the TI datasheet typical application schematic.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per TI product page and distributor listings. REACH/halogen detail available via TI green reporting sheet.
