diodes on the output of IRLZ44N?

Thread Starter

tracecom

Joined Apr 16, 2010
3,944
I built a unipolar stepper motor driver circuit using 4 IRLZ44N MOSFETS to switch the 12vdc to the motor windings. The circuit is working fine, but I just realized that I didn't include any counter-emf diodes on the outputs. Should I add them?
 

Jaguarjoe

Joined Apr 7, 2010
767
I'm missing something obvious-
The diode in a MOSFET (really a transistor with a shorted junction) will not conduct any current from drain to source because of its orientation except in reverse breakdown.

When an inductor is switched off, current will continue to try and flow towards the drain and the back biased cathode of the body diode. How is back emf being suppressed? You cannot push current back through the diode's cathode.

Figure 8 in AN-936 shows a zener across D-S. That makes sense and works well.
 

praondevou

Joined Jul 9, 2011
2,942
When an inductor is switched off, current will continue to try and flow towards the drain and the back biased cathode of the body diode. How is back emf being suppressed? You cannot push current back through the diode's cathode.
In a H-bridge with an inductor between the legs they conduct, yes. Let's say the upper left and the lower right switch is ON. On the inductor you have + on the left and - on the right. Turn off the switches , the inductor generates an inverted voltage that can be higher than the DC bus. Now all switches are off but since you'd have a (big) positive voltage on the right of the inductor and negative on the left the lower left mosfet diode and upper right mosfet diode will conduct. They will be forward biased.
 

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Thread Starter

tracecom

Joined Apr 16, 2010
3,944
I forgot the H bridge part. I should of realized that when he said 4 MOSFET's. Kinda obvious.
I don't think it's an H-bridge; it's four individual MOSFETs, each on a separate microcontroller output, and each controlling a separate winding of the stepper. I would post a schematic, but I don't have one since I sort of based the design on previous projects I have done.

I apologize for the confusion.

ETA: See post 9 for the schematic.
 
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praondevou

Joined Jul 9, 2011
2,942
I don't think it's an H-bridge; it's four individual MOSFETs, each on a separate microcontroller output, and each controlling a separate winding of the stepper. I would post a schematic, but I don't have one since I sort of based the design on previous projects I have done.

I apologize for the confusion.
Well in this case I think, yes, you should add diodes on the windings, since the mosfet body diode will never conduct. (I assume something like positive voltage --> motor winding --> drain of an N-FET --> source goes to GND) diode on the motor winding pointing to positive.
 
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Thread Starter

tracecom

Joined Apr 16, 2010
3,944
Here is the schematic with the diodes shown where I think they go. I drew the schematic after building the circuit, so the schematic may have errors.

I have not added the diodes yet, so if there are schematic errors or better options, I would be glad to hear them. Thanks.
 

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Jaguarjoe

Joined Apr 7, 2010
767
If the MOSFETs aren't turning on fast enough and warming up, you could lower the 4 gate resistors to around 33 ohms or so, that will help. But if its working fine the way it is, I wouldn't bother.

The diodes are where they should be.

What pgm did you use to generate the schematic?
 

Thread Starter

tracecom

Joined Apr 16, 2010
3,944
If the MOSFETs aren't turning on fast enough and warming up, you could lower the 4 gate resistors to around 33 ohms or so, that will help. But if its working fine the way it is, I wouldn't bother.
I assume the MOSFETs are turning on fast enough, although I do have to put a 1 msec pause after each high command from the PICAXE. The MOSFETs do not get hot at all.

The diodes are where they should be.
What would be better than the 1N4001 diodes? Zeners? What voltage? Same polarity?

What pgm did you use to generate the schematic?
DipTrace. Thanks.
 
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debjit625

Joined Apr 17, 2010
790
What would be better than the 1N4001 diodes? Zeners? What voltage? Same polarity?
IN4007,I already said that on my first post anyway that gives you :
Maximum repetitive peak reverse voltage : 1000V
Maximum RMS voltage : 700V
Maximum DC blocking voltage : 1000V

Good Luck​
 

praondevou

Joined Jul 9, 2011
2,942
What would be better than the 1N4001 diodes?
You won't need higher voltage diodes. They are either reverse biased , when the mosfet is conducting (reverse voltage is DC-bus voltage) or forward biased right after the mosfet opened.

You should be more worried about their current carrying capability; it depends on the motor how much energy these diodes have to dissipate. Do some tests to see if they get hot.

If one of these diodes fails THEN you may worry about the body diode of the mosfet whose maximum breakdown voltage may be exceeded.
 
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