Hei,
I have the Mosfet (IRF520) in the Arduino Stater kit. I'm reading the data sheet but I'm not sure I understand. I have a 12 V water pump I want to control, will the Mosfet handle this?
Link to datasheet: https://www.arduino.cc/documents/datasheets/MosfetTransistor.pdf
It says V(DSS) 100 V, so I assume it does handle 12 V.
If you are controlling the FET with an Arduino, you should be using a IRL520.
However, if the turn on voltage Vds is low, you might be ok.
What voltage do you measure from drain to source when the FET is on?
Does the motor operate?
does the FET get hot?
.
No. IRF520 is the standard device (look at the data sheet for it - it does not even start to turn on until the gate is above 4v). The IRL520 is a Logic level device designed to turn on with a lower gate voltage. The other issue you need to look at is the water pump itself - you don't say what current it uses (you need to look at the starting current as well), but in general, motors/solenoids/coils also need a suppression diode across the terminals to help deal with inductive kickback when the power is removed. The voltage rating should be OK (I use the IRL520 in a number of things), but you need to make sure to observe the current ratings as well. You may need to heatsink the transistor depending on how much current your motor takes.
If you look at the datasheet you reference at "Fig. 3" you will notice they don't even show it starting to turn on with less than 4 volts on the gate.
Hi,
I haven't tested yet. The arduino will be powered by the USB.
Left pin (Gate) is connected to pin D10 on the Arduino.
The middle pin (Drain) is connected the negative of the motor (pump), and also to the positive (12V) via a Diode (1N4007)
Right pin (Source) is connected to the GND on the Arduino.
The positive of the motor (pump) is connected to 12V.
So I guess the 12V never actually go "through" the MOSFET. It just connects the GND from the Arduino to the motor... or?
The motor is a DC30A-1230:Max rated current 350 mA, Voltage used 4.5Vdc ~ 12Vdc, Power consumption 0.5W~4.2W
The negative lead of the 12volt supply should be connected to the source, to complete the 12volt circuit.
Source should also be connected to Arduino ground.
Leo..
So the GND of the 5V (from Arduino) and the GND of the 12V battery pack should be connected?
gpsmikey:
No. IRF520 is the standard device (look at the data sheet for it - it does not even start to turn on until the gate is above 4v). The IRL520 is a Logic level device designed to turn on with a lower gate voltage.
Despite what others may say, I don't think there will be a problem using this MOSFET.
I am successfully using IRF540s, (which have the same gate threshold) to drive a NEMA 23 stepper motor.
The MOSFET in question is actually supplied in the official Arduino/Genuino Starter Kit. They wouldn't do that if it wouldn't work, would they?
Christian_83:
So the GND of the 5V (from Arduino) and the GND of the 12V battery pack should be connected?
Yes, that is correct.
JohnLincoln:
Despite what others may say, I don't think there will be a problem using this MOSFET.I am successfully using IRF540s, (which have the same gate threshold) to drive a NEMA 23 stepper motor.
The MOSFET in question is actually supplied in the official Arduino/Genuino Starter Kit. They wouldn't do that if it wouldn't work, would they?
Yes, as long as the MOS FET is fully turned on and doesn't get too hot.
Just measure Vds voltage to determine if it is saturated.
.
JohnLincoln:
Despite what others may say, I don't think there will be a problem using this MOSFET.
Russian Roulette.
Datasheet states it could be 2-4volt.
Not fully 'on' is not a big problem for the low current draw stuff in a starter kit.
Leo..
Wawa:
Russian Roulette.
Datasheet states it could be 2-4volt.
Yep. It's not a good habit to get into. (Playing Russian roulette, that is.)
The worst case should always be allowed for. And 4V is only the maximum threshold, not the maximum fully on voltage, which will be even higher.
You can get away with it by doing what Larry suggests, measuring the Vds when it's turned on, but it's really better to just use logic-level MOSFETs in the first place.
JohnLincoln:
The MOSFET in question is actually supplied in the official Arduino/Genuino Starter Kit.
Yes - a silly move on the part of those that put the kit together.
OldSteve:
Yes - a silly move on the part of those that put the kit together.
Me thinks that the Arduino/Genuino folks are programmers that know very little about hardware.
There are also many hardware mistakes on this website.
One example with a 1uF cap from an Arduino output/latch to ground. Two authors.
http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/ShiftOut
Amazing...
Leo..
Wawa:
Me thinks that the Arduino/Genuino folks are programmers that know very little about hardware.
There are also many hardware mistakes on this website.
One example with a 1uF cap from an Arduino output/latch to ground. Two authors.
http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/ShiftOut
Amazing...
Leo..
Yeah right. They say, "Notice the 0.1uF capacitor on the latchPin", then they use a 1uF in two separate schematics immediately afterwards. And I'd have to question the validity of even using an 0.1uF cap on the latch pin. They say it prevents flicker?
It seems to work fine. Thanks for the help.