Just some random thoughts and confusion. I'm running a 10A solenoid pulsed and I was curious how some of these tiny TO-220 package mosfets are rated at ridiculous currents.
I was testing a IRL540N which is a pretty beefy mosfet, rated 26-36A depending on temperature, L for logic level. I was able to pull my 10A load if I gave it 6V-10V gate. But it's rated as logic level. Putting 5V to pull 10A and it burns up instantly.
At 5V the Rds or so must be too high and it gets destroyed. Also at 10A it should be pulling 4.4Watts. Rds spec = 0.044. So at the rated spec of 26A, that means this thing could pull 30W per their own spec (obviously with a heatsink). I just don't see how with any heatsink that this would work at the rated 26A. I have some high rated heatsinks (I think they are 10C/W or lower) attached as well during testing. Has anyone ever performed such high current with any of the IRL or IRF's? I suppose the 5V is just too low that all kinds of stuff happens that it blows up before a heatsink would matter, but sadly it says Logic level and does mention 5V Vgs in a couple spots. IRL/IRF's do work for me at higher gates, but I haven't investigated that over time or any good stats.
I've run STP16NF06L's at 5V gate and they are rated at Rds= 0.09 (9 Watts 2x what the IRL is pulling). Thats much higher wattage and I've used it with no heatsink pulsing it 100ms every second to 1/2 second for long periods of time switching it on and off. No issues.
So anyway maybe just the Infineon brand is just misleading? I just don't see how my STP holds up so much better than the Infineon IRL's, unless they are saying it CAN be driven at low gate, but at a much reduced current. Looking at their graphs it looks like I should be able to pull 10A with a 5V gate. STP is rated way lower and higher Rds. Confused why the STP holds up much better.
I also got these from a real supplier, not ebay.
I was testing a IRL540N which is a pretty beefy mosfet, rated 26-36A depending on temperature, L for logic level. I was able to pull my 10A load if I gave it 6V-10V gate. But it's rated as logic level. Putting 5V to pull 10A and it burns up instantly.
At 5V the Rds or so must be too high and it gets destroyed. Also at 10A it should be pulling 4.4Watts. Rds spec = 0.044. So at the rated spec of 26A, that means this thing could pull 30W per their own spec (obviously with a heatsink). I just don't see how with any heatsink that this would work at the rated 26A. I have some high rated heatsinks (I think they are 10C/W or lower) attached as well during testing. Has anyone ever performed such high current with any of the IRL or IRF's? I suppose the 5V is just too low that all kinds of stuff happens that it blows up before a heatsink would matter, but sadly it says Logic level and does mention 5V Vgs in a couple spots. IRL/IRF's do work for me at higher gates, but I haven't investigated that over time or any good stats.
I've run STP16NF06L's at 5V gate and they are rated at Rds= 0.09 (9 Watts 2x what the IRL is pulling). Thats much higher wattage and I've used it with no heatsink pulsing it 100ms every second to 1/2 second for long periods of time switching it on and off. No issues.
So anyway maybe just the Infineon brand is just misleading? I just don't see how my STP holds up so much better than the Infineon IRL's, unless they are saying it CAN be driven at low gate, but at a much reduced current. Looking at their graphs it looks like I should be able to pull 10A with a 5V gate. STP is rated way lower and higher Rds. Confused why the STP holds up much better.
I also got these from a real supplier, not ebay.