# MOSFET and 3 V power supply

I want to control an N-channel MOSFET from a 3 V power source.

The thing is, I have difficulties understanding how to know the minimum Vgs value is to be applied for the MOSFET to be saturated. For example, what about the MOSFET CSD19501KCS (80 V N-Channel NexFET)?

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Did you see the graph on the first page? –  Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams Apr 13 '14 at 13:44

The first indication of how low Vgs you can apply is the Vgs-th (gate-source threshold voltage)

In this case Vgs-th is 3.2V (max value) so anything below that is a no go. Also note that the Vgs-th is specified for VGS=VDS and ID=250uA, so when you apply Vgs=3.2V, you will get an equal voltage drop across drain-source with a drain current of just 250uA , in other words you can't really use the mosfet with that low Vgs.

To find a proper Vgs, you should check the Vgs vs Rds-on graph and find an appropriate value of gate-source bias that has a drain-source resistance that is low enough for your application.

Your specific device has this graph

so the lowest you can go based on that is a Vgs=4.5V for about 18 $m\Omega$ resistance (estimated values).

There is another graph where you can get info from.

The graph is for VDS=5V so for Vgs=3.9V the Rds-on will be 5V/20A = 0.25 Ohm, if that level of resistance suits your application then you can use a Vgs that low but to get the best of the specific device you need to go higher.

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The specification for that FET does not adequately cover usage with a gate voltage of 3 volts. If you find another device, look for the graph of drain-source current versus drain source voltage. There will be several curves on the graph and each one will be at a particular gate voltage.

The FET you highlighted has this graph but the lowest gate voltage is 6 volts and this tells me it is unlikely to be suitable for any meaningful power delivery with a 3 volt drive to the gate. The picture below is for another FET but this graph will be similar in all manufacturer's data sheets: -

Notice the red lines I've added (for another answer a few weeks ago). At a gate voltage of 3.3V, you can expect the volt-drop across the FET to be 0.15 V when 1 A is flowing. At 2 A you'd expect a volt drop of about 0.3 V. You need to decide what your drain load is so you can pick points on the curve that are relevant.

As a quick, single number to look for, try searching fets that have a gate voltage threshold voltage less than 2 volts and preferably less than 1.5 volts. The parameter is called

$V_{GS(threshold)}$

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You've gotten a couple very good answers on typical behavior. Here are some (perhaps tl;dr - but you can skip to the bottom line) points.

If you're interested in designing something that is guaranteed to work, you should also look for the guaranteed numbers. As a switch, your interest would likely be in how much voltage is needed to turn it on (for a given definition of 'on') and how low the voltage has to be before it is guaranteed to be off. Those guarantees are usually specified in two different ways. The $V_{GS(th)}$ is more of a guarantee of where it is (mostly) 'off', specified at 250uA in the case of your MOSFET, but where $V_{GS(th)MAX}$ is given (Digikey's search engine) it's a usable proxy. The voltage at which $R_{DS(on)}$ is specified tells you what voltage the manufacturer tests it at for the 'on' condition (there may be more than one point specified). In the case of the CSD19501KCS, it is specified at 6V and 10V.

The graphs are only a guideline, whereas the limits on $V_{GS(th)}$ and $R_{DS(on)}$ (not the typical numbers) are guarantees (at specific temperatures).

You can use the graphs to interpolate and estimate what the limits might be at other conditions, but in general you should not depend on the typical numbers or the typical graphs (alone).

When you are using parametric search engines, one switch that can help detect MOSFETs suitable for lower voltage drive is "Logic Level". $V_{GS(th)}$ can certainly help to point you to the datasheets to scour to check the voltage(s) that $R_{DS(on)}$ is specified at. Searching for MOSFETs rated for very low $BV_{DS}$ will usually yield parts rated at low gate voltages.

Unfortunately, the opposite of the latter point is also true, it's rare to find a high-$BV_{DS}$ MOSFET with a "logic level" gate. In such cases you may have to generate a higher gate voltage (10V is very common for high-voltage MOSFETs). The $R_{DS(on)}$ of high-voltage MOSFETs also worse for high $BV_{DS}$ (die size being similar), so there can be a real cost to setting the specification for $BV_{DS}$ much higher than necessary (unlike BJTs where there is not a such a strong effect).

I took a quick look and did not see any 80V or better rated MOSFETs with 75A or better Ids that were reliably suitable for 3V drive. NXP has a number of automotive models with 5V drive, but even so they're not widely available from multiple sources, and they're aimed at the 42V automotive market, which seems a bit iffy (markets can be fickle).

Bottom line: If you cannot relax the Ids and $BV_{DS}$ ratings, I suggest boosting the gate voltage to 10V.

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