What is IRF520 MOSFET : Pin Configuration & Its Working

IRF520 MOSFET is a third-generation power MOSFET that provides fast switching, cost-effectiveness, strong design, and less resistance. The universally preferred package like TO-220AB is used in all industrial & commercial applications on power dissipation levels to just about 50 W.

The less cost & less thermal resistance of the TO-220AB package will donate to its broad acceptance all over the industry. This article discusses an overview of an IRF520 MOSFET’s pin configuration, specifications, features, and applications.

What is IRF520 MOSFET?

A power MOSFET like IRF520 is available with collector current 9.2A & breakdown voltage -100V. This MOSFET includes 4V of less gate threshold voltage & thus normally used through different microcontrollers to make the high current loads active.

This transistor can switch different loads which work by using 9.2A of nonstop current & works under 100V. It also includes 0.27 Ohms of on-state resistance which enhances the MOSFET efficiency as it will dissolve low heat-like loss. This MOSFET has only 4V of a low gate threshold voltage which means that this transistor can be switched ON even through 5V from the microcontrollers GPIO pin.

However this does not mean that the transistor will be activated totally with simply 5V, it requires approximately 10V supplied to the gate pin to activate totally & supply 9.2A of collector current. As a result, if you are seeking a MOSFET to be utilized through a microcontroller then 2N7002 MOSFET must consider.

Alternatively, you can also utilize a driver circuit to provide 10V to the gate pin of this Mosfet using a transistor. Added to this the mosfet also has good switching speeds and hence can be used in DC-DC converter circuits also.

Pin Configuration

The pin configuration of IRF520 MOSFET is shown below. This transistor includes three terminals where each terminal and its functionality are discussed below.

Pin1 (Source): Current supplies out throughout source terminal

Pin2 (Gate): This terminal controls the MOSFET biasing

Pin3(Drain): Current supplies throughout this drain terminal

Features & Specifications

The features and specifications of IRF520 MOSFET include the following.

• Mounting type is through-hole
• No surface mount
• Part number of the base is IRF5
• Tube packaging
• Silicon material is used
• N-Channel based Power MOSFET
• Rise time is 30nS
• Fall time is 20nS
• Drain Current ID is 9.2A
• The operating mode is an enhancement
• The threshold voltage of Gate terminal VGS is 4V
• Breakdown Voltage from Drain to Source is 100V
• Resistance of Drain Source RDS is 0.27 Ohms
• Operating & Storage Temperature Max Ranges from -55 to +175 Celsius
• It is obtainable in the To-220 package
• The Voltage Necessary to Conduct Min Ranges from 2V to 4V
• N Channel Type Transistor
• Dissipation of Power Max is 60W
• It is frequently used with Arduino microcontrollers because of the less threshold voltage.
• Pulsed Drain Current Max is 37A
• G to S voltage Max is ±20V
• Continues Current of Drain Max is 9.2A

Equivalent IRF520 MOSFETs are FDV301N, 2N7000 and alternative MOSFETs are IRF3205, IRF540N, 2SK551, IRFS520, IRFI520G, IRFS521, BUK442-100B, BUK442-100A, BUK452-100AMTP10N10E, IRF532, etc.

How to use IRF520 MOSFET?

IRF520 MOSFET is used to make an LED strip dimmer circuit. The required components to build this circuit are IRF520 MOSFET-1, LED strip-1, Potentiometer-1, 9V battery-1, Resistance-1, fabrication machines, hand tools, soldering iron, and nose pliers.

Steps Involved in Connecting the Circuit

• In the first step, a 250k potentiometer is used to change the voltage of a DC dimmer Board.
• In step2, place the potentiometer in a fixed place & connect the three terminals by soldering to LED Dimmer.
• In step3, an IRF520 is used which delivers maximum o/p of a simple LED dimmer circuit. This circuit can also work with other MOSFET based on N-channel
• In step4, connect the potentiometer with the MOSFET. The gate pin of this transistor is connected to the middle pin of the potentiometer & the drain pin is connected with the Potentiometer’s corner pin.
• In step 5, use a 12V single color LED strip mainly for a PWM LED strip dimmer.
• In step6, the +ve wire of the LED strip needs to connect to the MOSFET’s source pin, and the –Ve pin is connected to the first pin of the potentiometer.
• Finally, a 12V SMPS is used to provide a 12v power supply toward the strip dimmer circuit.

This LED dimmer circuit uses very few components where a potentiometer and an IRF520 MOSFET are essential. This MOSFET is an Enhancement type that delivers maximum o/p and this circuit can also work through another N-Channel MOSFET.

In this simple led dimmer circuit, the potentiometer is allied through the Gate terminal of the MOSFET. Here, the gate voltage can be adjusted by turning the potentiometer

For the voltage at the Gate terminal, the voltage from Drain to the Source needs to change. Consequently, the voltage will change constantly by the rotation of the potentiometer. So in this manner, the above led dimmer circuit will work with the help of a potentiometer.

This LED strip dimmer circuit is used in a wide range of applications. By using this board we can make a 100W LED dimmer circuit & a motor speed controller. The components used in this circuit are reasonable and also easily available at all markets. An equivalent type of security protection is frequently arranged through different Microcontrollers like Raspberry Pi, Arduino, PIC & many other controllers. However, they are not cheap.

Where to use/Applications

IRF520 MOSFET is used in an extensive range of circuits like current UPS, motor controller circuits, low power supplies & it can also be used to drive high power components like transistors, relays, etc.
Because of less gate power supplies, it is simply utilized at the o/p of raspberry pi, Arduino & different ICs to drive high current loads.

• It is used in audio amplifier circuits.
• Motor Driver Circuits
• DC-DC converters
• Telecommunication & Computer Applications
• Fast Switching Applications
• Applications of Solar
• UPS or Uninterruptible power supplies
• Management Systems of Battery
• Chargers of Battery
• Advantages
• The advantages of IRF520 MOSFET include the following.
• High current capacity
• Gate charge is less
• 100% tested with an avalanche
• The operating temperature is 175oC
• The technology used is avalanche rugged

Thus, this is all about an overview of MOSFET like the IRF520 datasheet. A small module like HCMODU0083 is a breakout board mainly used for the IFR520 transistor. This module is mainly designed for switching heavy DC loads using only the digital pin of a microcontroller.

It provides a less costly method to drive a motor within robotic applications; however, this module is utilized to manage DC loads that operate with the maximum current. Screw terminals are mainly used to connect the load by using an outside power source. Once the load is switched, an LED indicator gives an indication visually. Here is a question for you, what are the disadvantages of IRF520 MOSFET?