15A 400W MOSFET AOD4184A to Control Motor or Load

This project demonstrates how to use a 15A, 400W MOSFET module (based on the AOD4184A MOSFET) to control various loads, such as motors and lights. This is a valuable skill for numerous applications, allowing precise control over power delivery. The MOSFET's high current capacity makes it suitable for a wide range of projects.

Practical Applications:

Controlling the speed of DC motors in robotics or automation projects.
Creating dimming circuits for LED lighting.
Building a high-power switching circuit for appliances.
Designing a motor controller for a small vehicle.

Hardware/Components

The core component is a 15A, 400W MOSFET module featuring two AOD4184A MOSFETs in parallel (in video at 00:05). You will also need an Arduino board, a power supply, connecting wires, and the load you wish to control (motor, lights, etc.). A heat sink is highly recommended for higher current applications (in video at 03:40).

Wiring Guide

The module has clearly marked terminals: input (V_in), output, and ground (in video at 01:42). Connect the positive side of your power supply to the V_in, and the negative to the ground. Your load connects to the output terminals. The Arduino controls the MOSFET module's gate using a digital pin (in video at 08:26).

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Code Explanation

The Arduino code uses Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to control the MOSFET. The configurable parameters are:

motorPin: Specifies the Arduino pin connected to the MOSFET module's gate (default: pin 9). (in video at 05:47)
mSpeed: An integer variable controlling the motor speed (0-255). (in video at 05:47)
mStep: Determines the increment/decrement step for mSpeed (default: 15). Adjust this to fine-tune speed control (in video at 05:54).


int motorPin =9; // pin to connect to motor module
int mSpeed = 0; // variable to hold speed value
int mStep = 15; // increment/decrement step for PWM motor speed

The code includes logic to prevent mSpeed from exceeding the 0-255 range (in video at 07:26). For testing higher currents (5A, 10A, 15A, 20A), a simplified version of the code keeps the output pin HIGH to maintain a constant on state (in video at 13:43).


void loop() {
  digitalWrite(loadPin, HIGH);
  while(1); // wait forever
}

Live Project/Demonstration

The video demonstrates controlling a 51W light bulb (in video at 10:40) and a DC motor (in video at 11:18) using PWM. The project also includes tests with an electronic load at 5A, 10A, 15A, and 20A (in video at 13:10), showcasing the module's high current handling capabilities. Measurements of the voltage drop across the MOSFET at various currents are also shown (in video at 16:06), validating the low on-resistance of the AOD4184A.