[ARC5] Question for Smart People: IGBT Transistors

[Peter Gottlieb]

My last design used a device with a rating of 600 amps continuous and 1400 volt max. The project was a 400 amp PWM constant current circuit running at several hundred volts. The drive circuit was pretty simple and took less than a couple of square inches of PCB area. That is part of the beauty of these devices, they are very easy to use. Just imagine what that would take using 1940's technology!  I don't think you could even match the performance at all. 

They may be a sledgehammer so trying to use them where a jeweler's 2 oz hammer is called for wouldn't make much sense. So yeah, they have a place. 

Silicon carbide power transistors also have a specific kind of use otherwise you might look at them and wonder why they were even created. 


Peter

> On Apr 28, 2017, at 8:16 PM, Scott Johnson <scottjohnson1 at cox.net> wrote:
> 
> IGBT’s- all the gate capacitance of a MOSFET, and the Vsat drop of a bi-polar!
>  
> I guess they have their place in the 10HP and up world.
>  
> Scott V. Johnson W7SVJ
> 5111 E. Sharon Dr.
> Scottsdale, AZ 85254-3636
> H (602) 953-5779
> C (480) 550-2358
> scottjohnson1 at cox.net
> scott.johnson at ieee.org
>  
> From: ARC5 [mailto:arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Peter Gottlieb
> Sent: Friday, April 28, 2017 5:12 PM
> To: Fuqua, Bill L <wlfuqu00 at uky.edu>
> Cc: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net; ARC-5 <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [ARC5] Question for Smart People: IGBT Transistors
>  
> All parts have their limits and it is the responsibility of the engineer to understand those limits and keep the device operation sufficiently within those limits. I work with IGBTs which are hundreds of dollars each in quantity so really hate frying them!  As does my boss...
>  
> I call them surface mount parts. Ok maybe with 1/4 inch bolts, but still surface mount...
> 
>  
> Peter
> 
> On Apr 28, 2017, at 2:27 PM, Fuqua, Bill L <wlfuqu00 at uky.edu> wrote:
> 
>   Had a tech that called them Insulated Gate Blowup Transistors.
> 
> Naturally, you need to read the specs carefully.
> 
> 73
> 
>  
> 
> Bill wa4lav
> 
>  
> From: ARC5 <arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of David Stinson <arc5 at ix.netcom.com>
> Sent: Friday, April 28, 2017 12:05 PM
> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net; ARC-5
> Subject: [ARC5] Question for Smart People: IGBT Transistors
>  
> Question for Smart People:
> One of the specifications for high voltage
> IGBT Transistor (thank you, Mr. Harshman
> and a letter is on the way) is Vce when the
> the transistor is in saturation.  Typically
> 3 or 4 volts.   Sort of like the newer FETs that
> have a very low on-state resistance.
> 
> Am I correct to infer that when the IGBT is
> saturated "ON," that 4 Volts at Ice is all
> the transistor needs to dissipate?
> For instance, if sourcing an Amp through
> the transistor, IxV = 4 Watts dissipation.
> 
> Thanks,
> Dave S.
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> ARC5 mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:ARC5 at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> ______________________________________________________________
> ARC5 mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:ARC5 at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/arc5/attachments/20170428/3a14f397/attachment.html>