The Pololu web page for the VNH2SP30 explains that while the battery volts can go up to 41V the over voltage shutoff kicks in at about 16 volts. OK, that is sort of clear. But 16 volts across which pins? Is this 16V across the motor or battery to ground? It makes a big difference because in the first case I can use a 17 volt battery and then run PWM at some low duty cycle to keep the motor volts well below 16 volts.
My goal is to use Lithum batteries such that when discharged to the low safe limit the battery still has more voltage than the motors are rated for (12V) So it looks like I want a four cell or “4S” LiPo battery but these will be just over 16V when fully charged. If the over voltage shutdown looks at input voltage then I will need to use a lower voltage battery that may go below 12V as it discharges.
In short, does the “over voltage shutdown” apply to the chip’s input or output voltage?