This seems a fairly simple topic but I couldn't find a comparative view anywhere so I apologise if its a simple answer.
I am looking to drive a couple of power mosfets in parallel (probably IRFP2907) from a PIC microcontroller. I realise that the mosfets need at least 10v to fully turn on so I will probably use a 12v rail that I'm already planning to have in the project.
What is the best method to drive the power MOSFETS from the microcontroller's 5v output? I have thought of 3 different options but I'm not sure if any of them are immediately the obvious choice:
1. Use a smaller MOSFET that turns fully on at 5v to supply the 12v to the power MOSFET gates.
2. As above but use an op-amp.
3. Use a mosfet driver IC.
I would have thought option 3 would be the best, given that it sounds like a mosfet driver is designed to do exactly what I'm looking for, except that I can't find any noob friendly information about how they work and how I would integrate one between a uC and a power mosfet. If anyone can help with this please do.
The first two options seem simple enough, but perhaps I would struggle with controlling the gate capacitance of the power mosfet?
Any help would be very appreciated.
I am looking to drive a couple of power mosfets in parallel (probably IRFP2907) from a PIC microcontroller. I realise that the mosfets need at least 10v to fully turn on so I will probably use a 12v rail that I'm already planning to have in the project.
What is the best method to drive the power MOSFETS from the microcontroller's 5v output? I have thought of 3 different options but I'm not sure if any of them are immediately the obvious choice:
1. Use a smaller MOSFET that turns fully on at 5v to supply the 12v to the power MOSFET gates.
2. As above but use an op-amp.
3. Use a mosfet driver IC.
I would have thought option 3 would be the best, given that it sounds like a mosfet driver is designed to do exactly what I'm looking for, except that I can't find any noob friendly information about how they work and how I would integrate one between a uC and a power mosfet. If anyone can help with this please do.
The first two options seem simple enough, but perhaps I would struggle with controlling the gate capacitance of the power mosfet?
Any help would be very appreciated.