What module better to use for control 12V PC fans?

Using Arduino General Electronics
1

Hello,

I don't have much experience with arduino but I want to create simple project which will control speed of four 2pin PC 12V 0.35A fans with arduino uno. I want to control each fan independently, so each of them will be controlled by own PWM line. I found out that I need to use some sort of NPN Transistor or MOSFET to handle PWM signal to drive single fan.
I do some re-search to find out what will be the best approach for my project but not found clear answear.
Better will be to use TIP120 Darlington transistor with diode protection and resistor or integrated driver module?

IRF540 AOD4184A FDD8447L 4-channel IRF540

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The TIP120 will work in a 12 V system where the 1 to 2 V drop is not such a problem but is basically obsolete.

For 350 mA (nominal) drive, any of those modules will work though the IRF540 is not actually a logic-level FET.

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Have you considered using a UNL-2003 stepper motor driver, it has 4 outputs and allows paralleling them if you want. This will be simple and clean. The outputs have a peak in the range of 500Ma, depending on the chip manufacturer.

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gilshultz:
Have you considered using a UNL-2003 stepper motor driver, it has 4 outputs and allows paralleling them if you want. This will be simple and clean. The outputs have a peak in the range of 500Ma, depending on the chip manufacturer.

Hmm, Nope! :roll_eyes:

Cannot handle four continuous outputs of 350 mA. See figure 4.

5

Paul__B:
The TIP120 will work in a 12 V system where the 1 to 2 V drop is not such a problem but is basically obsolete.

For 350 mA (nominal) drive, any of those modules will work though the IRF540 is not actually a logic-level FET.

If you need a logic level Mosfet would a IRF520 work for you?

A 10 pack only runs around $10 U.S.

6

ribbonman:
If you need a logic level Mosfet would a IRF520 work for you?

If you actually needed a logic level MOSFET, an IRF520 which is simply not a logic level MOSFET would therefore not work for you.

However, since the current specified here is so small, the IRF540/ IRF520 as used in the modules illustrated will generally suffice. :roll_eyes:

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Best will be a driver dedicated for Arduino with logic level MOSFET, but it's hard to find it.

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Paul__B:
If you actually needed a logic level MOSFET, an IRF520 which is simply not a logic level MOSFET would therefore not work for you.

However, since the current specified here is so small, the IRF540/ IRF520 as used in the modules illustrated will generally suffice. :roll_eyes:

What would be a logic level MOSFET?

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Well, the AOD4184A that you featured in your first post, for a start! :sunglasses:

Note where it actually has a specification for RDS(ON) (at VGS = 4.5V) < 9.5mΩ So that means it is usable at 5 V. If you only have the specification for 10 V, it is clearly not logic-level as 10 V is not a serious logic level. If it had a specification for 3.3 V it would be even better. :grinning:

The Gate Threshold Voltage on the other hand, is almost irrelevant - it needs to be no more than half or preferably a third of the logic voltage.

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