High power PNP question

If you are trying to build something like Nomad's 555 circuit, yes, it uses a PNP transistor, but the design is capable of nothing like a 6 ampere output. If you use a good, high current PNP transistor, say a TIP36 or D45H. But this circuit will not provide enough base drive to switch one of these with a 6 ampere collector current. to get good saturation (less than .3 volts collector to emitter) one of these may need a base current between 1/20th and 1/10th of the collector current (.3 to .6 amperes). The design shown has a 470 ohm resistor limiting the base current. After you discount the 1 volt base voltage and the

1.5 volt loss through the 555, this leaves 10 volts across that resistor for a base drive of 10/470=.021 amperes. This resistor would have to be lowered to about 20 ohms to get the needed base drive, and then the 555 would overheat.

So the output capability of the 555 has to be increased. Adding a second PNP (say, a 3 amp rated TIP32) with its base connected directly to the 555, its collector connected directly to the negative rail, and a 15 ohm 5 watt resistor between its emitter and the big PNP's base, you get the needed base drive. Then you need to put a 10 ohm resistor between the base and emitter of the big PNP to suck the stored charge out of it when the 555 output goes high, to have a clean turn off.

All these designs are also missing the diode that should be across the motor, cathode up. Without this, the high voltage pulse you get when you interrupt the motor current is likely to damage the switching transistor. For a 6 ampere motor, this diode should be fast (turns off fast when reverse bias is applied by the transistor) and rated for at least 3 amperes, average. Candidates would be the SR503 (30 volt 5 ampere schottky) and 80SQ045 (8 ampere, 45 volt).

If you want to simplify the circuit quite a bit, replace the entire PNP and resistor network with a big P-channel mosfet (gate directly connected to the 555). Something like IRF5305 (0.06 ohms on resistance, 55 volt).

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John Popelish
Reply to
John Popelish
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I don't understand what you mean by 'kick start'. Either the PNP or P-channel switch will allow the motor to see zero to almost 12 volts, average. If the PWM frequency is high enough, the vibration should be acceptably low.

I see no functional difference between N and P channel switches from the standpoint of motor operation. One switches the positive side of the motor and one switches the negative side. The motor current does not know the difference.

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John Popelish
Reply to
John Popelish

Hello

I want to design a PWM to control the duty cycle of o big fan (80watt). I have seen a nice circuit at

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The nomad's with the kick start function. The maximum current i want to control is 6.6 Amber and in order for the kick start to work i should use a PNP transistor, correct? Can i use a N channel MOSFET like irf540? Do i have too use any special driver after 555 and before MOSFET or PNP?

Thanks for your time

Reply to
kostas

The 'kickstart' thing is done by keeping reset low for a few seconds, which powers the fan during that time. Using a mosfet like JP suggested doesn't affect that at all

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Regards,
   Robert Monsen

"Your Highness, I have no need of this hypothesis."
     - Pierre Laplace (1749-1827), to Napoleon,
        on why his works on celestial mechanics make no mention of God.
Reply to
Robert Monsen

You have been very detailed, thank you. If i put a P-channel mosfet the kick start function won't work, right? I think without that i'm gone have problem starting the fan because it's very loud and i'm gonna work it with small duty cycle. If i put an N channel won't the kick start work (and i think i will not have to add a second transistor, i can driver it directly from 555, or i'm wrong?)

Reply to
kostas_

I see.

An N-channel mosfet and an NPN transistor do approximately the same thing. Both turn on when the input pin (base for the NPN and gate for the mosfet) is more positive than the common pin (emitter for the NPN and source for the mosfet). The difference is that there is a diode junction in parallel with the NPN base-emitter, but the mosfet gate to source is open circuit (insulated). so to keep the NPN on, you need to supply that diode junction with a current, while no current is needed to keep the mosfet on. It does take a lot more voltage (most of the 12 volts) to turn the mosfet completely on. If you reverse voltages, the same applies to PNP and P-channel mosfets.

Since the reset signal pulls the 555 output low, that would turn on either a PNP or P-channel output. If you wanted the same function with either an NPN or N-channel output, you would have to invert the

555 output, using either a PNP small signal transistor or a small P-channel mosfet or a cmos inverter (CD4049 CD4069 or some inverting gate).
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John Popelish
Reply to
John Popelish

With the kick start i mean the 555 is a in reset mode for about 2 second in order for the fan to take 12V directly for the first spin and then then 555 comes in the game. If the 555 is in reset condition the output will be 0 so i need a PNP in order to drive the fan for 2 second when the 555 is off. If i put an NPN then the kick start won't work. So i think i can put an irf540 n channel mosfet to do the job. I don't know exactly how mosfets work. Some explanation and a link for additional info?

Reply to
kostas_

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