Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => The "Black Arts!" ( Electrics & Electronics ) => Topic started by: dodgy geezer on June 05, 2012, 01:44:22 pm

Title: lost in datasheets...
Post by: dodgy geezer on June 05, 2012, 01:44:22 pm
Ok, I give up.  Does ANYONE know the difference between an IRF540, an IRF540N and an IRF540A...?
Title: Re: lost in datasheets...
Post by: ACTion on June 05, 2012, 03:22:21 pm
Ok, I give up.  Does ANYONE know the difference between an IRF540, an IRF540N and an IRF540A...?
Probably - but you won't find them working for International Rectifiers!
Dave M
Title: Re: lost in datasheets...
Post by: dodgy geezer on June 05, 2012, 03:47:40 pm
This site seems to give a fair bit of info http://www.seekchip.com/icstock-index/IRF.html (http://www.seekchip.com/icstock-index/IRF.html) - but there are over 50 540 designations   {:-{
Title: Re: lost in datasheets...
Post by: malcolmfrary on June 05, 2012, 03:54:55 pm
Different current carrying abilities at first glance.
irf540 = 15A at 100C continuous
ifr540a = 19.8A at 100C
irf540n = 23A at 100C
Probably several more differences in there tied up with how well the heatsink works, but if the basic 540 works, the others should be a drop-in replacement.  Although they might have a better performance, it could just be that demand for the higher performance variants results in bigger production runs and consequent fractionally lower prices to the general market.  
Title: Re: lost in datasheets...
Post by: dodgy geezer on June 05, 2012, 05:10:29 pm
Thanks... I have a circuit specifying IRF540A, and, as far as I can tell, it's not made any more. So I looked for alternatives, but no one seemed to specify the N, which seemed to be common. And I couldn't tell why...