Im new to KiCad, and am struggling with MOSFETS. I have a schematic which uses logic levels to switch a 2N3904 transistor that switches a P-Channel MOSFET on and off (NDP6020P). I have the data sheet and I cant seem to find either a generic or specific symbol for the MOSFET. Here is the symbol from the data sheet:
Any help would be appreciated!
Search for pmos
KiCad has as many symbol variants for p channel as for n channel
Are you looking for a symbol (for schematic) as your message indicates, or a footprint (for PCB) as the message category indicates?
I did that, but non of the configurations have the source, gate and drain as depicted in the symbol I posted.
Im looking for both symbol and footprint. Did I select the wrong topic?
OK. Iâm looking. They only have pin numbers but I think in every possible configuration. That is the important part. You need to match pin numbers to the correct function.
From there you can mirror it top to bottom and suddenly one of the library symbols will look like this one. 
Well, there isnât a topic for both. Since choosing the right symbol is heavily dependent on the part package, the category does fit.
I see in your original post that you have a specific pMOSFET part number. You will need to get a hold of the datasheet for that part because you need to know which pin number is which pin function. Several models of mosfets that use the same package may not agree on pin number to function, and the same model in different packages may have different pin-outs as well. If that model has several packages, you need to decide on which one you will use. The symbols in the standard libraries are labeled SGD, DSG, etc. Those are the pin 1, 2, and 3 order. So for the first example SGD, pin 1 = Source, pin 2 = Gate, and pin 3 = Drain.
A trick that you can use is if you are using multiple mosfets of the same type in your design, place one mosfet symbol. Then immediately get all the settings correct (footprint, ordering information, etc). Then copy that symbol as many times as you need it. This helps reduce the amount of duplicated information that you have to type in. (You can apply this technique for all other components.)
???
When I start eeschema and press âaâ for add and then type âfetâ I get a list of several hundred FETâs in different libraries:
There are many more N-channel FETâs then P-channel fets, but that is to be expected.
Do you have the libraries installed?
@Rene_Poschl With the description of some of the P-Channel Fetâs Id and Vds are negative values, but with others they are positive, which is at least an inconsitency in the libraries.
Application: kicad
Version: 5.1.0+dfsg1-1, release build
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Edit:
Reported as:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/kicad/+bug/1836326
Edit:
Added comment to an existing issue on Github:
https://github.com/KiCad/kicad-symbols/issues/261
Raise an issue over on github. (these libs have not been touched in a very long time.)
The NDP6020P is available in THT TO-220 and SMT TO-263AB (the missing centre lead variant)
The first decision is which package are you using.
The select a suitable footprint and work backwards to assign DGS or GDS etc
Some manufacturers quote negative voltage and current values for PMOS and PNP devices, it makes filtering a range a real headache on distributor websites
Itâs PMOS_GDS. Bear in mind symbols shown in datasheets arenât necessarily in the form you expect. In this case they have shown the symbol âupside downâ with respect to its normal usage in a circuit.
That is an inconsistency in the industry. I believe it arises from two different conventions for defining the sense of a current:
Consider the device in its ânormalâ, intended, biasing conditions. Define current sense according to the most common practice in circuit theory - i.e., current flows from the more positive voltage potential to the more negative potential. With this approach, both N-channel and P-channel devices (as well as NPN and PNP) have positive drain currents under normal operation.
Define the currents with respect to the device (or its package) without regard to external circuitry, biasing polarity, etc. The most common convention is that current INTO the pin is positive, while current OUT of the pin is negative. With this approach, N-channel (and NPN) devices have positive drain currents, while P-channel (and PNP) devices have negative drain currents.
There are examples of both approaches on distributor web sites as well as manufacturer data sheets. When you first encounter the two approaches side-by-side, it seems confusing or even incorrect. After thinking it through, you learn to accept it (at least on an intellectual level) as simply a quirk in the âpersonalityâ of this profession.
Dale
paulvdh thanks for responding. Yes I have the libs installed. I have selected every pmos on the list and non corresponds to the data sheet diagram unless Iâm missing something else.
SenbazuruCDE, I have the ON Semicinductor data sheet and the pins are not numbered. They are only labeled by function (G,S,D). Is there a generic pmos that could work? Iâm not an engineer, just a hobbiest. This is so complicated.
Bobc, if itâs upside down do the drain and source reverse too?
If you look at the footprint you might find that information. Can you point us to the datasheet you are looking at?
Just copy one of the fetâs in the standard library to a custom library and edit it to your liking in the symbol library editor.
Once youâve done this a few times itâs easier and faster done then even writing a post like this on the forum.
Making custom library symbols is a very common and normal procedure.
Drain and source function the same way regardless of orientation.
For reference, the datasheet is https://www.onsemi.com/pub/Collateral/NDP6020P-D.PDF
Kicad symbol is functionally equivalent, but mirrored around X axis:
Kicad has a footprint for TO-220, I think there are also TO-263 in latest versions of the libraries.
The pin numbering all depends upon the devicesâ physical package.
As @bobc already presented the TO-220 and TO-263 packages, let me throw this one out there as well:
In my personal symbol library I have all the possible configurations, as a reminder of just how arbitrary the pin-out can be between packages.
This does NOT mean that all of these configurations are currently manufactured; it is only a reminder to me that a manufacture could throw a wrench into the works if they wanted to.
The first letter is possible Pin 1, second letter possible Pin 2, and the third letter is possible Pin 3. A devices physical pins are typically given a standard numbering scheme for each package; I wonât otherwise mention that some manufactures consider tabs the same as pins.
No, they are just upside down.
Print out the datasheet on a piece of paper and hold it in front of a mirror to view it. The functionality remains the same, despite how it visually appears.
The two instances in my screenshot are the same symbol. One in normal orientation and one is mirrored (pressed x while placing).
This does not change what symbol pin will be connected to which footprint pad. (gate is still pin 1, drain is still pin 2 and source is still pin 3. See: How does KiCad know which symbol pin represents which pad of the footprint?)
It only changes how the symbol is oriented in the schematic. (Same result as if you drew a new symbol that is mirrored but with the same pin assignment. KiCad includes a mirror function for symbols as this is a common use case that does not really require new symbols to be drawn -> makes the same symbol able to be used more flexible and therefore gives the circuit designer more option on how to draw the schematic.)
