Electronic – How to choose MOSFETS by using the datasheets infos

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I know all the theory behind the MOSFETs, how to calculate the Id current based on (W/L) and (Vgs-Vth) and etc. But, now that I need to project a real solution, I feel like all of this is kinda useless. There are so many types of mosfets – power, logic level, small signal – and so many parameters that I'm not sure of what they actually mean, I'm totally lost, I dont know where to start.

This is the circuit that I want to project. Its a very simple and common one:

schematic

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

By my researches, I think the resistors are correct.

The MCU GPIO Voltage is 3.3V. The maximum current that goes to my load is 200mA.

What kind of MOSFET M2 and M1 need to be? I think M2 need to be a singal level or small signal idk, but how I know the right one? The data sheets that I looked describes an "Max and Min VGS Threshold", but what does that means?

M1 can be any P-Channel? There is anything else that I need to worry about besides the source current? Does the VGS Threshold matters in this case?

Best Answer

Pick any of the SOT23-3 MOSFET rated 350mA or above, from a well known brand. Buy yourself a tape of 100 pieces. I don't think you have to worry about anything else in your application.

Most N-Mosfets, nowadays, have a gate threshold between 1.2 and 3V. P-Mosfet have typically a threshold of -1.2V. Which means the gate of a P-Mosfets must be at the same voltage as the source, practically, to be off. Mosfets with different, and therefore unusual parameters will be exceptions.

It's fine to use a P-Mosfet for M1, but you can also use a N-Mosfet to power your load by connecting M1 to the low side of the load. Instead of connecting it to 5V, you would connect it to GND (The "negative rail" Chris talked about above). Like this you would use only N-Mosfets. It's also generally more efficient to use N-Mosfets. Unless you have a good reason to use a P-Mosfet of course. I suppose M2 is a N-Mosfet.

R2 is a little bit weak. I would increase it to 100K.

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