Hi to all, Thank you all for replaying to my FET question. Now lots of things became clear for me except one thing. How to figure out by looking at the datasheet Whether the part is depletion mode or enhancement mode since datasheet doesn't mention any thing about the mode?. Thank you very much Andre -----Original Message----- From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of Harold Hallikainen Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 4:22 PM To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. Subject: Re: [EE] FET, JFET, MOSFET etc. The relationship between Id and Vgs for any kind of P channel FET (put Id on Y axis, Vgs on X) is the right half of a parabola facing up with the vertex on the X axis. As you move to the right, increasing Vgs, the current goes up. For a J-FET, the vertex is to the left of the Y-axis. The X value where Id goes to zero (the vertex) is the cutoff voltage. The current when Vgs is zero (at the Y axis) is Idss. With an N-channel JFET, you cannot drive the gate positive or the junction will start to conduct. Once you move to MOSFETs, there are depletion mode and enhancement mode FETs. With these, the gate can be driven positive with respect to the source. These have the same Id vs Vgs curve (a half parabola), but the curve can be slid to the right. A depletion mode FET may have the curve about where a JFET is, that is, Vgs=0 will have drain current. Driving the gate negative decreases the drain current. Driving it positive increases the drain current. An enhancement mode MOSFET (most common), has the half parabola slid to the right so Id does not start to increase until Vgs is positive. The main electrical differences are where the vertex of the half parabola is. And, don't drive the JFET gate positive. For P channel, reverse all voltages and currents! Harold -- FCC Rules Updated Daily at http://www.hallikainen.com - Advertising opportunities available! -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist