Selecting a MOSFET

In complicated power designs, metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) selection has a tendency to be somewhat of an afterthought. While it’s just a three-pin device, appearances can be deceiving and trying to select the correct MOSFET or “FET” can be a task more complicated than you might think. In this 7-part blog series, we analyze a variety of typical FET applications, from power supply to motor control, and address the various concerns and trade-offs that dictate the FET selection process. Hopefully, whether you’re a FET novice or an advanced apps engineer, you will find this series insightful the next time you have to decide on a MOSFET best suited for your system (and budget).

Blogs

Part 1: How to cross reference a FET

Part 2: Motor control

Part 3: Switch mode power supply

Part 4: Buck converter selection tool

Part 5: Load switch

Part 6: MOSFETs for battery protection

Part 7: Hot swap