I need to drive a device on the output of a PIC that has a rating of 5V, 1A. Currently, the output at the PIC is 5V, .5 microamps. What would be the best circuitry to use to do so. I was thinking a series of Darlington transistors. Thanks.


brummerman

 

u can use an IC called ULN2003, it's a darlington transistor array,

 

The maximum sink/source current for a pin of PIC is 25mA.

You can use a logic level MOSFET to drive your load like IRL520.

 

Failing that, Just use a MOSFET. I have just finished a project PWMing a motor using a MOSFET switching a 4 amp motor.
If you use a MOSFET, you must put a pull-down resistor from the PIC output to ground so that the MOSFET gate is not floating when the output is in the hi Z state during boot-up.
About 10K will do the trick.

Daniel.

 

Typically the transistor is used as a "low side switch" google it.