Controlling a power fet from an arduino

Using Arduino General Electronics
#1

I am at a loss to find an efficient way to control a power FET with the 5V logic of an Arduino.

In the attached schematic, if I leave out Q3 then I waster power through Q1 when I want to turn Q2 off.

If I leave Q3 in then it is inefficient re parts and a voltage drop across CE of Q3 that is not available to the FET gate.

It appears to me that a relay or a gate driver IC (minus the FET) are really the only practical and efficient way to control 12V logic from 5V logic?

I am trying to control a solenoid valve that operates at 12V and about 200-300mA

5VFET.jpg
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#2

Is there any particular reason you're using that mosfet? There are far better, more modern devices. While the 2N6659 can be directly driven from 5v logic (read the datasheet!), the bigger question remains: what are you trying to drive and at what frequency?

#3

avr_fred: Is there any particular reason you're using that mosfet? There are far better, more modern devices. While the 2N6659 can be directly driven from 5v logic (read the datasheet!), the bigger question remains: what are you trying to drive and at what frequency?

Very low frequency - it is for an irrigation controller.

What device would you suggest other than FETs or transistors?

#4

OP's drawing:

|500x274

#5

See: AOD514/AOI514/AOY514 FDP7030BL/FDB7030BL IRL3705N IRLZ44N

See: http://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/Popular-powerFETs

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#6

Of the devices referenced above, you'll find these devices:

FDP7030BL/FDB7030BL IRL3705N IRLZ44N

Are in easy to handle TO-220 packages and are suitable for direct drive from an Arduino with the first circuit shown in this link:

http://www.gammon.com.au/motors

Be aware that the fet you use should be "logic level" so that the device is fully turned on with only 4 to 5 volts on the gate. The three devices above meet this requirement. Refer to Nick Gammon's web page mentioned above for more details.

#7

Well what about TK5Q60W - that is the FET I am actually using but it is not available in Multisim where I created that schematic.

I thought that was supposed to be turned on by 5V but some one was telling me that it actually requires about 10V to fully turn on.

Looking at the 'total gate charge' for both TK5Q60W and IRF540, both mention about 10V?

So I don't understand. Do they turn on fully at 5V arduino logic or 10V?

#8

Watch this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=315s&v=GrvvkYTW_0k

#9

larryd: Watch this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=315s&v=GrvvkYTW_0k

I like his video's, but this one didn't tell the WHOLE story on Vgsth. Just because a fet has a Vgsth of 4.5V, which is <5V doesn't mean it will work with 5V logic levels.

#10

Looking at RDS(on) at logic level input voltage tells the story.

See time ~3:59.

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#11

Hi, Is there a reason for high side switching? I assume R1 is your load?

Any reason you aren't using an opto-coupler to overcome all the level switching.

The circuit you have posted will never switch fully ON.

When Q3 turns on and Vg is for an instant higher in potential then Vsource, you will get next to no resistance drain to source. This means the source will now be almost at Vdd, so the gate potential which is being switched to Vdd by Q3, will be lower than the source voltage, due to Q3 Vcesat.

To make the N-CH MOSFET conduct Vg has to be higher in potential than Vsource.

I may be wrong, but that is the way I see it.

Tom... :)

#12

Hi,
Would this do the job?

Tom… :slight_smile:

Opto_Solenoid.jpg
Opto_Solenoid.jpg1583×874 150 KB

#13

boylesg: I am trying to control a solenoid valve that operates at 12V and about 200-300mA

A 150 ohm base resistor, 1N4148 free-wheel diode and 2N2222 or similar high current switching BJT will be the cheapest method to do that. The diode is essential in any such circuit.

#14

MarkT: A 150 ohm base resistor, 1N4148 free-wheel diode and 2N2222 or similar high current switching BJT will be the cheapest method to do that. The diode is essential in any such circuit.

I found some cheap IRLZ44N on ebay.....so I will see how I go with them.

Can some one explain to me the differences between high side and low side switching with FETs - have never really understood it.

#15

High side switching is on the high side, low side switching is on the low side, that’s it. You can do it
with a switch or a relay or a semiconductor device.

However you have to realize that switching with a MOSFET is done with a common-source configuration
(or a common-emitter circuit for a BJT), and couple that with the kind of switching and it will be obvious, since the
source terminal is power in, drain is power out. For high-side source is positive supply in, so the device
has to be p-channel.

#16

Sorry I understand what high side and low side switching are.

But not why you would chose one or the other.

#17

High side switching allows a common ground - often this is required by the rest of the device.

Low side switching leaves part of the circuit at supply potential, so it has to be isolated from ground, which is sometimes inconvenient (if it has signals to other parts of your circuit).

For a dumb load though, low-side switching is simpler and you don't have to level shift - its often used for leds, motors, heaters, etc.

High side switching is usually used for controlling a sensor/peripheral or another whole circuit, where sharing a common ground is assumed and simplest.

For high voltage loads high-side switching is much safer, and would be recommended.

For loads on the end of a long cable high-side switching is recommended as the cable is also switched off when the load is.

Its basically common sense.

#18

Some high and low side switch examples:
Outputs.jpg

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#19

OK so when you say common ground you are only really referring to the FET and the transistor in the first example.....nothing to do with the rest of the circuit?

So what is likely to happen if you were to invert the positions of the motor and fet n the first example?