Description
The IRF540N is a very popular N-Channel Power MOSFET known for its versatility in medium-voltage, medium-current applications. It is often the “middle ground” choice for designers who need more voltage capability than an IRFZ44N provides but don’t require the extreme current handling of the high-power series.
Key Specifications
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Transistor Type: N-Channel MOSFET
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Drain-Source Voltage ($V_{DS}$): 100 V
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Continuous Drain Current ($I_D$): 28 A (at $25^{\circ}\text{C}$)
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On-Resistance ($R_{DS(on)}$): $0.042 \ \Omega$ (Max)
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Power Dissipation ($P_D$): 130 W
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Package Type: TO-220
Pinout Configuration
When looking at the front of the TO-220 package (the metal tab is at the top) with the pins pointing down, the pins from left to right are:
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Gate (G)
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Drain (D)
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Source (S)
Comparison: IRF540N vs. IRFZ44N
The IRF540N is the “higher voltage” sibling to the IRFZ44N.
| Feature | IRF540N | IRFZ44N |
| Max $V_{DS}$ | 100 V | 55 V |
| Max $I_D$ | 28 A | 49 A |
| $R_{DS(on)}$ | $0.042 \ \Omega$ | $0.0175 \ \Omega$ |
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Selection Insight: Choose the IRF540N if your supply voltage exceeds 55V or if your circuit requires a higher safety margin for voltage spikes. Choose the IRFZ44N if you need the absolute lowest on-resistance and your operating voltage is safely under 40V.
Common Applications
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DC-DC Converters: Excellent for step-up (boost) converters that operate in the 24V–48V range.
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Motor Control: Used for medium-power DC motor drivers and PWM speed controllers.
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Solar Power: Frequently used in solar charge controllers.
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LED Drivers: Ideal for high-power LED arrays that require a higher drive voltage.
Essential Design Requirements
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Gate Drive: Like most Power MOSFETs, the IRF540N is not a true “logic-level” device. While it might turn on at 5V, it will not be fully saturated. For the specified $0.042 \ \Omega$ resistance, use a 10V gate signal. If your microcontroller is 3.3V or 5V, use a driver IC or a simple NPN transistor level-shifter.
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Thermal Management: With 130W of power dissipation capacity, this MOSFET can get very hot. Use a heatsink and thermal paste. At 28A, the TO-220 package can become a point of failure; if your load is continuous and high-current, consider parallel MOSFETs or better cooling.
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Gate Resistor: To protect against parasitic oscillations, always include a small gate resistor (e.g., $22 \ \Omega$ to $100 \ \Omega$) directly at the Gate pin.
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