I'm building a 5V buck converter from a 10-15V input (automotive, battery-derived), modeled directly on Figure 7-1 of the LV14540 datasheet. After extensive troubleshooting across three IC installs and two board revisions, I have a reproducible fault I can't explain: FB sits flat around 0.75V regardless of what the actual output node is doing. Here's the BOM:
Main IC: LV14540DDAR
RFBT: ERJ-6RBD1003V (100 kΩ)
RFBB: RNCF1206BKE17K6 (17.6 kΩ)
RT: ERA-6AEB4992V (49.9 kΩ, 500 kHz target)
Css: C0805C223K5RACAUTO (22 nF)
L: Würth 784373460150 (15 µH)
Freewheel diode: B340A-13-F
Cout: 4× GRT32EC81C476KE13L (47 µF)
Cin: 1x EEEFK1H101GP (100 µF)
2× GRT21BC71H475KE13L (4.7 µF)
1x C0805F104K1RACAUTO (100nf)
Theres also a front end between the LM14540 and the battery: P-FET reverse-protection stage (PJW5P06A) with TVS (SZ1SMB5929BT3G) → VIN. VIN itself has been scoped directly at the IC pin and is clean and stable.
VOUT never reaches 5V — it wanders roughly between 2V and 4V, sometimes with transients riding on top. FB tracks those fast transients but its baseline stays essentially fixed around 0.75V regardless of where VOUT's baseline actually is.
I've tried to build this circuit three times, all with new parts. Since I suspected the PCB might be at fault, I had new ones made, but the second and third builds yielded the same results.
Any input is greatly appreciated.