The OPA830 provides outstanding output voltage capability. For the 5V supply, under no-load conditions at +25°C, the output voltage typically swings closer than 90mV to either supply rail.

The minimum specified output voltage and current specifications over temperature are set by worst-case simulations at the cold temperature extreme. Only at cold start-up does the output current and voltage decrease to the numbers shown in the specified tables. As the output transistors deliver power, the junction temperatures increase, decreasing the V_BEs (increasing the available output voltage swing) and increasing the current gains (increasing the available output current). In steady-state operation, the available output voltage and current is always greater than that shown in the over temperature specifications because the output-stage junction temperatures are greater than the minimum specified operating ambient.

To maintain maximum output stage linearity, no output short-circuit protection is provided. This configuration is not normally a problem because most applications include a series matching resistor at the output that limits the internal power dissipation if the output side of this resistor is shorted to ground. However, shorting the output pin directly to the adjacent positive power-supply pin (8-pin packages) in most cases destroys the amplifier. If additional short-circuit protection is required, consider a small series resistor in the power-supply leads. This resistor reduces the available output voltage swing under heavy output loads.