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MOSFET Testing
using a Multimeter
Yes it can be done
By Carlo Cianferotti carloc@infol.it
This short article will deal with testing power MOSFETs using an ordinary
digital multimeter. Anybody who have ever tried this must have marvelled
at strange readings and short circuits found even on surely working
devices. Of course, there is no magic involved!
Testing bipolar transistors, whether low or you just have to reverse any polarity MOSFETs on and off.
high power, is all plain sailing if you have just involved). For an N-channel device, Now its time to lay your MOSFET
an ordinary ohmmeter available and know (1) negative also means below the on the table surface. No matter if
the connections on the device and (2) the six threshold necessary for switching the surface of the table is conduc-
steps involved. Such a simple test should the MOSFET on. tive or not, the most important point
spot 8 out of 10 defective bipolar transistors, In fact when you handle a MOS- to observe is that the MOSFETs
although your editor had to admit defeat with FET for testing pulling it from the leads do not touch anything. Also
some high-power UHF RF transistors he tried circuit or from its protective packag- be sure not to touch the leads or
to examine the other day. For example, an ing your fingers, the soldering iron probe tips with your fingers so as
MRF646 50-watts beast checked out just etc., will typically cause a random not to lose any stored charge. In the
fine electrically but its in-circuit power gain charge to be stored in the gate- case of power MOSFETs, the Drain
was nothing to write home about! Returning source equivalent capacitor. tab can be freely touched and laid
to the subject of our article, MOSFET testing The first thing to be done is give on the table surface, but a safer
is a different (but not necessarily nasty this charge a known value because method is to pick up and hold the
smelling) kettle of fish. only then does it become possible to power MOSFET by the tab, then
check the drain-source path (junc- touch the table surface with your
tion) for correct on/off operation. other hand, and only then lay the
Whither charge and voltage? Lets see how this is done in practice. MOSFET on the table.
It can be argued that MOSFETs are charge
controlled devices, because the gate, which
is the control electrode, represents a virtu- Preparing for testing Lets test again
ally ideal capacitor exhibiting an extremely First of all you have to switch your At his point you are ready for the
low leakage current. However, the same digital multimeter to the Diode actual testing, which involves a
charge produces a voltage, which in turn Check range. This way your multi- number of steps described below.
determines the degree of conduction so meter will supply the junction under
these wonderful devices may equally be test with a voltage thats usually of 1. In the first test we switch the
called voltage-controlled. the order of a couple of volts (open- MOSFET off and test its gate-source
No matter if voltage or charge-controlled, circuit) and a current limited to a (GS) junction.
when a MOSFET is out of its circuit, any few milliamps. This is just what we
charge stored in it will stay there, keeping the need dont try to use an ohm Expected
MOSFET Gate Source
reading
device on if it is positive, or keeping it off if it range since the voltage supplied is
is negative (we are talking of most common then much lower (approx. 0.2 volts) + Open
Meter
(black lead) (red lead) circuit
N-channel devices, for P-channel MOSFETs and certainly not enough to switch
12
Expected
MOSFET Drain Source
reading
8
+ Short
Meter
(black lead) (red lead) circuit
4