> The question is - the specs indicate these body diodes are
> quite fast and able to handle large currents, and I just wanted
> some outside verification that they are adequate to the inductive
> spike clamping job. Yes ????//

I don't have the data for that particular FET but generally the
answer is yes. The part that you do have to be aware of is that the
diode will be dissipating power while current is flowing through it. If
you have an over-spec'd FET to get low Rds-on (and therefore lower
Pd), it may be negated by the power dissipated by the 0.7V diode
drop when the current is going the other way. This still heats up the
die and drops the working ratings of your FET.

I think there may be a worked example somewhere in the archives.

Steve.


======================================================
Steve Baldwin                Electronic Product Design
TLA Microsystems Ltd         Microcontroller Specialists
PO Box 15-680, New Lynn      http://www.tla.co.nz
Auckland, New Zealand        ph  +64 9 820-2221
email: steveb@tla.co.nz      fax +64 9 820-1929
======================================================

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics
(like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics