Mosfets drain (n type the tab on to-220 mosfets)

[MrDEB]

I want to attach all 8 tabs to the circuit board as heat sink but can I attach all 8 on together on the circuit board?

 

[ZipZapOuch]

Are the LEDs in the strips all connected in series or parallel?

Generally, strips are 12-v rails with "bus bars" down each side and at 1-inch or 2-inch intervals there are a series of three LEDs and a resistor to limit current. Some newer strips have 4 high efficiency per series with one resistor.

 

[MrDEB]

The strips are referred to as LED NEON.

 

[tumbleweed]

the voltage dividers at the gate-drain off the charge in the mosfet so it turns off

As long as the pulldown is connected BEFORE the series R then it's not a voltage divider... you'll get the full voltage swing on the gate. If the series R is connected first then you have a voltage divider, which you probably don't want since it'll reduce the gate drive voltage.

The series R will interact with the gate capacitance, slow down the turn on/turn off time, and very likely increase the power consumption of the mosfet. It'll do this no matter if you have the series R connected before or after the pulldown.

Slowing down the edges isn't necessarily a bad thing... it'll help reduce any switching transients, but it will likely make the mosfets run hotter depending on how often you switch them.

The pulldowns are really there so that the mosfets don't all turn on when the board is powered up/down, before the drive signals are initialized.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

The strips are referred to as LED NEON.

Only by idiots selling them

 

[MrDEB]

attempting to duplicate post# 69 but will keep trying

 

[For The Popcorn]

attempting to duplicate post# 69 but will keep trying

Between posts #69 and #95, you should have everything you need. What are you having problems with?

 

[For The Popcorn]

DISREGARD - SEE POST #121

Unzip the attached file and file/open/EasyEDA into EasyEDA. Click the footprint file and import library.

This is the basic footprint for a horizontal TO-220 package with a bare metal pad.

Open it to edit, and add the top and bottom copper areas of the size you want and add vias, then save it.

 

[For The Popcorn]

I laid out a footprint with 18mm wide heatsink areas, which should just all for 8 MOSFETs on a 150mm wide board. It was just easier than trying to explain the process. 18mm wide doesn't provide a lot of heatsink area, but it's a starting point you can edit.

I'll upload the footprint late tonight.

 

[For The Popcorn]

DISREGARD - SEE POST #121

 

[MrDEB]

thanks will try it out.

 

[MrDEB]

Referring to post #63 I think the measurement is incorrect.
Looking at the datta sheet I come up with different figures.
Using the high-end and low end measurements
15.24 - 2.61 = 12.63 add 4.06 = 16.67
14.84 - 2.62 = 12.22 add 3.55 = 15.77
round it out and I come up with 16.666
not saying popcore is wrong, just questioning?

 

[For The Popcorn]

Do what you think best.

If the distance between mounting hole and the bend point of the leads (where they narrow down) is too large, just bend the leads a little farther down. If the distance is too short, then you'll need to bend the leads in the wide area, which has the potential of damaging the bonds inside the case.

You're probably fine with the shorter distance, which is about what I had initially, but on a different drawing, it looked tight, so I extended the distance a bit.

 

[For The Popcorn]

Glad to see you managed to import my footprint into EasyEDA and are able to modify it.

 

[MrDEB]

I imported the first one you posted but it had no bottom layer.
I copy n pasted the second one with via stitching. All was good then bam! The stitching disappeared. I think Easyeda has several bugs. The program froze up yesterday as well. Going to recover the file and hopefully get a pcboard.
Plan to have the board assembled as the mosfets are 4x less than what I paid for from Mouser etc.

 

[For The Popcorn]

Copy and pasted? From where? To where? You didn't "open EasyEDA file"? Will I never learn?

You do understand that if JLC assembles the boards, it will be 10 copies? And that you'll need to explain every detail fully? Like how you expect the MOSFETs to be mounted?

In my experience, EasyEDA iscl very solid. If it's acting goofy, save your file, go to task manager and close EasyEDA, then restart it. Perhaps rebooting the computer isvl a goodvl idea too.

 

[MrDEB]

I downloaded the file you posted and then copied and pasted the mosfets.
I get a top and bottom layer.
I need to recheck JLC bt recall seeing where only 2 boards are required for assembly.

 

[MrDEB]

can't find the page that showed only 2 boards required.
Sent a message to Diptrace about increasing the number of connections. Have gotten an upgrade in the past for more than 300 connections.
Easyeda is a nice program but it has bugs. I have a board but the DRC says I have issues. Very confusing at best.

 

[For The Popcorn]

Good luck. I've tried my best.

 

[MrDEB]

THANKS for trying. Will see what Diptrace says.
Curious you want me to post the easyeda file and see if you get numerous drc errors.

 

[For The Popcorn]

Sorry, my footprint does not work properly. There's no apparent way to associate the vias and plane areas to the same net. The quick and dirty approach won't work.