Using MOSFETs with an Arduino

Using MOSFETs with an Arduino
In this video we look at which type of N channel E Mode MOSFET to use with an Arduino. We look at why using the stanrd IRFP type is not the best because of the gate threshold voltage.

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[Teklectic]

A perfect example I ran into of where you might use a logic-level MOSFET is on the main board for my 3D printer. The original designers opted for standard MOSFETs to run the heaters, the result of this was the requirement for heat sinks and active cooling to keep them cool, they easily reached over 90C. I replaced those with logic-level MOSFETs and no longer needed the active cooling; they stayed at around 24C during operation.

[Batselot]

This channel is really fun when you are just chilling and trying to learn new stuff at electronics. Great work!

[mikeoliver]

If you use logic level MOSFET’s they tend to stay cooler so you don’t need huge heat sinks as they turn all the way on when you are using 3.3v circuits too. Great video Paul, almost to that 100, 000.

[daveb]

Current at the Base vs Voltage at the Gate ... great lesson in Current conservation, thanks Paul. The lightbulb over my head just went High.

[anishhansoge]

Superb video!!
This video cleared all my doubts about MOSFETs!!
Thanks a lot!

[inspectormills]

I really don't know where else I would get such great practicle electronics knowledge. Thanks

[ninjutsuryu]

Thanks for the video. Can you also do one on driving a P channel MOSFET?

[tvdylan]

love the video !! im just about to attempt a gate driver circuit on my mosfet !! high speed, significant amperage and 12-36 volts on the input, what are the basic protection components i might need ? is it mostly just that 10k resistor to pul down the voltage quickly and safely ? : ) cheeers !!

[ionix]

Very good video. Thanks. Appreciate it!

[stevetobias]

Thanks Paul, great video as always. I like to check the data sheets before deciding what MOSFET's I decide to use. Always a great way of saving you from making silly mistakes

[aeropeoplellc]

This is awesome. @learnelectronics Can you also make a video for gate driver circuitry both ic and discrete components please.

[nigeljohnson]

It's hard to find MOSFETs that will operate from a processor operating on a 3.3 volt supply or lower. In this case I use a low current bipolar transistor as a buffer. The virtue of the silicon bipolar transistor is that it only requires approximately 0.7 volts to saturate the base emitter junction, making it an ideal buffer. A common emitter buffer is very useful for switching on a p channel enhancement mode power MOSFET. The alternative solution might be to fit an opto coupler, allowing a 3.3 volt processor to switch on the gate of a MOSFET working at a much higher supply voltage. The only limitation being the amount of current an opto output transistor can source into the mosfet gate. There are OPTOs with Darlington output stages that help. There are also more expensive MOSFET OPTOs.
I have used these to disconnect the I2C bus data and clock lines, connecting different, and separately powered, modules together on a ribbon wire bus. ( OPTO Toshiba TLP597G)
When power is removed from one module, the OPTO stops the unpowered module bus from pulling down the I2C bus lines on the other units. The OPTO I am using has only a one ohm resistance when on and practically infinity when off. This make it idea for connecting in series with the I2C bus lines.

[tonysfun]

Nice and clear video, explained it well also! Thank you for making these videos!

[snottythe-snorlaxian]

I do not fully understand, but I am enlightened & will watch again.

[danbutler]

Nice video. In comparing the two MOSFETs, you seem to be assuming that all Arduinos are running at 3.3V, which isn't necessarily a valid assumption. I've been using Arduino Nano, which runs at 5V. So it seems to me that either one would likely be just fine, and not a lot of difference between the two. Am I missing something? (NOTE: I don't really have much experience using MOSFETs--so this is is really more of a question than anything. I'm here to learn!)

[tav]

Great work again. Appreciate your work Paul. Lets lift you up through 100K subs! Keep going!

[englishrupe]

Thanks, Paul! Great demo and explanation!

[ficho]

Thanks a lot! Really helpful! Please consider making video about data sheets of other common components, it is really hard for beginner to extract important stuff from mountain of information.

[klausbrinck]

I don´t know a lot about electronics, but noticed, that people use many gate-driver-designs... Is a LL-mosfet also in need of those drivers, or does the fact, that it conducts at 1, 3v, lets it work finely even with solely an arduino? I´m thinking thereby of course on the switch-on/off-speed of the mosfet. In other words, turning on already at 1, 3 out of 5 available volts, lets it turn on faster (shorter turning-on time), cause at just 1, 3v the arduino has more mA left to give, and thus shorten the turning-on-time
In my case, I want to drive cleanly a mosfet at 5-30kHz, 1-2Α (so, not long delays while turning on/off), and looking for any easy way to do it, without having to study electronics first... ;-(
Thanks á priori for every answer...

[puzzlefactorysoundstudios]

Wow, what a fantastic video. Thanks so much for making it, I've learned a lot more about reading datasheets!
If I'm driving a IRLML6344 MOSFET from an ESP32 pin, would I need a series current limiting resistor? Vgs(th)=0.8v, Id = 10μA and Vds = Vgs for this model.