MOSFET ratings

Apr 08, 2008 2 Replies

Does the current rating of a mosfet take into account all maximum circumstances under normal operating circumstances? e.g., basically if it says X amps and I run it < 80%X or so will everything be ok? i.e., does it essentially include the power dissipation in that value too(in the sense that P_max = X*Rds_ON)?



Just not sure if I actually need to calculate anything else if I'm running it under "normal operating conditions"? I'm just trying to find some decent, but not too derated, mosfets(actually H-Bridge) for motor control of about



15A but not sure if they can handle the power dissipation but not sure if the max current rating takes that into account or not. I do see the max power dissipation on the data sheet but I'm a bit confused at how they got it:

Dual N & P-Channel PowerTrench® MOSFETN-Channel: 40V, 20A, 24m? P-Channel: -40V, -20A, 54m? Features Q1: N-Channel ??Max rDS(on) = 24m? at VGS = 10V, ID = 9.0A ??Max rDS(on) = 30m? at VGS = 4.5V, ID = 7.0A Q2: P-Channel ??Max rDS(on) = 54m? at VGS = -10V, ID = -6.5A ??Max rDS(on) = 70m? at VGS = -4.5V, ID = -5.6A ??Fast switching speed ??RoHS Compliant



How can it be both 20A and 9A?



Thanks, Jon


Because the marketing guy sez so? Seriously, look at the guaranteed Rdson at your drive level and nothing else. Graphs are just typical data and I never design by those. And the marketing glitz, well, you know.

Be conservative. If in doubt take a biger FET.

Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/

There's more to power dissipation that that alone if it's switching such as turn on and off losses during which it's operating in a linear way.

Graham

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