EE Bookshelf: Understanding power MOSFET data sheet parameters
Having a hard time trying to figure out whether that FET can handle enough current for your project? AN11158 from NXP might help clarify some of the many parameters that you need to take into account that are often overlooked. The Safe operating area, for example, is an important one that often gets skipped and people just look at the best-case scenario marketing numbers on the front page of the datasheet: “The Safe Operating Area (SOA) curves are some of the most important on the data sheet. The SOA curves show the voltage allowed, the current and time envelope of operation for the MOSFET. These values are for an initial Tmb of 25°C and a single current pulse. This is a complex subject which is further discussed in the appendix (Section 3.1).”
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