[SOLVED] Driving a 4v max Vgs(th) with Arduino's 5v digital pin

Using Arduino General Electronics
1

A very quick query about driving an IRF9Z34N (Power MOSFET) using the Arduino's 5v digital output pins.

Normally I use MOSFET's that are specifically "Logic Level" marked, but this one doesn't seem to have any specific labeling of being LL. I see that the Vgs(th) has a -4v Maximum and I know that directly connecting the gate to the Arduino's digital output pins will run around -5v through it. Will the MOSFET fail under my conditions? (I am running 5v at 500ma from gate to source so power dissipation is completely fine especially since I can always put a heat sync on it).

I have thought about using a resistor in line or just simply PWM but I just wanted to ask just to be sure.

Thanks!

2

That is meant to have 10v applied to the gate, the spec'ed Rds(on) is for 10v.

See figure 1. Assume 4.5v, not 5v. See that curve? It's only able to conduct about 1 amp at that voltage on the gate, and at much higher resistance.

That transistor is not appropriate for driving with the Arduino, particularly if you're switching +5v, as you would need to get a voltage below ground on the gate to get it to turn on; this is exceptionally inconvenient. You might just barely get by with it here, but why are you trying to use such an ill-suited transistor when much better ones are readily available?

Any of these should work, and are in convenient through-hole packages:
https://www.digikey.com/products/en/discrete-semiconductor-products/transistors-fets-mosfets-single/278?k=&pkeyword=&pv1993=1&pv1993=24&pv1993=3&FV=ffe00116%2C9780002%2C142c2742%2C142c2749%2C142c28b1%2C142c0092%2C142c05ba%2C142c05e5%2C142c05ef%2C142c0607%2C142c0608%2C142c0613%2C142c07af%2C142c0912%2C142c095f%2C142c0a1a%2C142c0afd%2C142c0bc0%2C142c0bc1%2C142c001f%2C142c015a%2C142c002a%2C142c025a%2C142c17fd%2C142c1da5%2C142c1da7%2C142c004e%2C142c0317%2C142c0051%2C142c032c%2C142c20e3%2C142c0368%2C142c23f5%2C142c2590%2C1f140000&mnonly=0&ColumnSort=0&page=1&quantity=0&ptm=0&fid=0&pageSize=25