I have an application the requires 150ma to be drawn from a ULN2803 pin, with my duty cycle I should be good for ~180ma but I don't really want to be that close to the edge if I don't have to be.
Does anyone know if it's acceptable to parallel 2 lines of the darlington drivers together?
You can put two in parallel, but if your load is only 180mA it wouldn't seem to be necessary.
It's strange that the data sheet lists 500mA "per device" and no total-package limit. I wouldn't hesitate to use it for 500mA x2 or even x4, but not all 8 at once.
hi Ron,
The loads can have different voltages, providing you leave the diodes common pin o/c
EDIT:
AS you are using 24V and 5V you could tie the diode common to +24V
can the outputs (ULN2003) of e.g. three parallel channels sink higher current (1.5A) if a heat sink is glued to the IC body or use 6 paralleled channels?
I'm using those outputs for an egg turner motor in an incubator controller. Three outputs are unused and one is used as an LED driver (10mA).
The motor will run for about one minute (maximum) within a selectable time interval of one to 24 hours in steps of one hour.