Hawes Amplifier Archive by James T. Hawes, AA9DT

IDSS Finder

Locate IDSS Characteristics for Various FETs

IDSS specifies the maximum current that can safely pass through the FET. Your amplifier design must fit into an “operation zone”: Maximum IDSS is the top boundary of this zone. The bottom boundary is minimum ID, which occurs at VGS (off). The left boundary is VP. The right boundary is the gate-source breakdown voltage V(BR)GSS. Stay well within these four boundaries, and you'll achieve a useful design. See the drain curves, right. The red rectangle represents the operation zone for a particular JFET.

Schematic: Measuring
           the maximum current that can safely pass through a JFET or depletion MOSFET.
Fig. 1. Operation zone (in red) (1.)

How to use the menus below. Start with your FET's part-number prefix or “family.” (For example, “2N-”.) Click the down button for this family. A menu drops down. Find your FET. For each FET, the approximate IDSS range appears to the right of the part number. All values appear in milliamperes. Where the manufacturer doesn't provide a value, you'll see “N/A” (not available).

For IDSS ranges with unavailable values, estimate the IDSS value. For example, try “ballpark” values: For devices on this page, the average maximum IDSS value is six times the minimum. Example: The IDSS range is “2—NA.” The top number might be (2 x 6), or 12 mA. Measuring the IDSS is another possibility. You'll find a circuit for a basic IDSS meter at Figure 2. For more information on meters, see IDSS Tester & Tutorial.

Fig. 2, right. IDSS is the drain current when we short gate & source. (2.)
Schematic: PFET
            preamplifier

▲ WARNING. The IDSS test is a momentary test. During IDSS current flow, some devices may become hot. Continuous operation at IDSS may damage such devices. (For example, a JFET in a TO-92 case with a 250 mA IDSS: It would probably require a heat sink for continuous operation.) Otherwise, your circuit might cause personal injury, and JFET damage is likely.

How to use the values. To determine the quiescent drain current for your amplifier, pick a value within the IDSS range (min & max). Quiescent (no-signal) drain current must exceed the minimum ID value. Also, keep your value beneath the maximum.


IDSS Finder Table

2N- Family

2SK- Family

BF- Family

J- Family

MPF- Family

PN- Family

Other Families

P-Channel JFETs


Footnotes

1. Albert Paul Malvino, Ph.D., Transistor Circuit Approximations, 3rd ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1980), 236. ▶Re: Four drain-family curves. The “Operation Zone” drawing on this page derives from Malvino's drain curve drawing.

2. Idid., 235-236. ▶Re: IDSS refers to the drain current with the gate shorting to the source. This current is the maximum safe value of current. The IDSS measurement drawing on this page derives from Malvino's JFET bias drawing and his accompanying discussion.



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WARNING. This is your project. Your achievement is entirely yours. I assume no responsibility for your success in using methods on these pages. If you fail, the same is true. I neither make nor imply any warranty. I don't guarantee the accuracy or effectiveness of these methods. Parts, skill and assembly methods vary. So will your results. Proceed at your own risk.

WARNING. Electronic projects can pose hazards. Soldering irons can burn you. Chassis paint and solder are poisons. Even with battery projects, wiring mistakes can start fires. If this page baffles you, this project is too advanced. Try something else. Again, damages, injuries and errors are your responsibility. — The Webmaster



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