In this post we learn about MOSFET bidirectional power switches, which can be used for operating a load across two points bidirectionally. This is simply done by connecting two N-channel, or P-channel MOSFETs back to back in series with the specified voltage line.
Contents
What is a Bidirectional Switch
A bidirectional power switch (BPS) is an active device built using MOSFETs or IGBTs, which allows a two way bidirectional flow of current when powered ON, and blocks a bidirectional flow of voltage when powered OFF.
Since it is able to conduct across both ways, a bidirectional switch can be compared and symbolized as a normal ON/OFF switch as shown below:
Here, we can see a positive voltage is applied at point "A" of the switch and a negative potential is applied at point "B", which allows the current to flow across "A" to "B". The action can be reversed by simply changing the voltage polarity. Meaning, the points "A" and "B" of the BPS can be used as interchangeable input/output terminals.
The best application example of a BPS can be seen in all MOSFET based commercial SSR designs.
Characteristics
In Power Electronics, the characteristics of a bidirectional switch (BPS) is defined as a four-quadrant switch having the ability to conduct positive or negative current in the ON-state, and also block positive or negative current in OFF-state. The four-quadrant ON/OFF diagram for a BPS is shown below.
In the above diagram, the quadrants are indicated in green color which indicates the ON state of the devices regardless of the polarity of the supply current or the waveform.
In the above diagram, the red straight line indicates that the BPS devices are in OFF state and offers absolutely no conduction regardless of the polarity of the voltage or the waveform.
Main Features a BPS Should Have
- A bidirectional switch device must be highly adaptable to enable easy and quick power conduction from both sides, that is across A to B and B to A.
- When used in DC application, a BPS must exhibit minimum on state resistance (Ron) for improved voltage regulation of the load.
- A BPS system must be equipped with proper protection circuitry to withstand sudden in rush current during a polarity change, or at relatively high ambient temperature conditions.
Bidirectional Switch Construction
A bidirectional switch is constructed by connecting MOSFETs or IGBTs back to back in series as shown in the following figures.
Here, we can witness three fundamental methods through which a bidirectional switch can be configured.
In the first diagram, two P-channel MOSFETs are configured with their sources connected back to back with each other.
In the second diagram, two N-channel MOSFETS can be seen connected across their sources for implementing a BPS design.
In the third configuration, two N-channel MOSFETs are shown attached drain to drain for executing the intended bidirectional conduction.
Basic Functioning Details
Let's take the example of the second configuration, in which the MOSFETs are joined with their sources back to back, let's imagine positive voltage is applied from "A", and negative to "B", as shown below:
In this case we can see that when the gate voltage is applied, current from "A" is allowed to flow through left MOSFET, then through the internal forward biased diode D2 of the right side MOSFET, and finally the conduction completes at point "B".
When the voltage polarity is reversed from "B" to "A" the MOSFETs and their internal diodes flip their positions as shown in the following illustration:
In the above situation, the right side MOSFET of the BPS switches ON along with D1 which is the internal body diode of the left side MOSFET, to enable the conduction from "B" to "A".
Making Discrete Bidirectional Switches
Now let's learn how a bidirectional switch can be built using discrete components for an intended two way switching application.
The following diagram shows the basic BPS implementation using P-channel MOSFETs:
Using P-Channel MOSFETS
When point "A" is positive, the left side body diode gets forward biased and conducts, followed by the right side p-MOSFET, to complete the conduction at point "B".
When point "B" is positive, the opposite side respective components become active for the conduction.
The lower N-channel MOSFET is controls the ON/OFF states of the BPS device through appropriate ON/OFF gate commands.
The resistor and the capacitor protect the BPS devices from a possible in rush current surge.
However, using P-channel MOSFET is never the ideal way of implementing a BPS due to their high RDSon. Therefore these might require bigger and costlier devices to compensate against heat and other related inefficiencies, compared to N-channel based BPS design.
Using N-Channel MOSFETS
In the next design we see an ideal way of implementing a BPS circuit using N-channel MOSFETs.
In this discrete bidirectional switch circuit, back-to-back connected N-chanel MOSFETs are used. This method demands an external driver circuit for facilitating the two way power conduction from A to B and in reverse.
The Schottky diodes BA159 are used to multiplex the supplies from A and B to activate the charge pump circuit, so that the charge pump is able to generate the necessary amount turn ON voltage for the N-channel MOSFETs.
The charge pump could be built using a standard voltage doubler circuit or a small boost switching circuit.
The 3.3 V is applied for powering the charge pump optimally, while the Schottky diodes derive the gate voltage directly from the respective input (A/B) even if the input supply is as low as 6 V. This 6 V is then doubled by the charge ump for the MOSFET gates.
The lower N-channel MOSFET is for controlling the ON/OFF switching of the bidirectional switch as per desired specifications.
The only disadvantage of using an N-channel MOSFET compared to the previously discussed P-channel are these extra components that may consume extra space on the PCB. However, this disadvantage is outweighed by the low R(on) of the MOSFETs and highly efficient conduction, and low cost small sized MOSFETs.
That said, this design also does not provide any effective protection against over heating, and therefore oversized devices may be considered for high power applications.
Conclusion
A bidirectional switch can be quite easily built using a couple back to back connected MOSFETs. These switches can be implemented for many different applications which require a bidirectional switching of the load, such from AC source.
References:
TPS2595xx, 2.7 V to 18 V, 4-A, 34-mΩ eFuse With Fast Overvoltage Protection Data Sheet
TPS2595xx Design Calculation Tool
Tobias says
Hi! Thank you for your very easy to follow article. I have an idea that I would be interested to hear you opinion on: How about driving two N-MOS back to back common source, with a traditional low side mosfet gate driver, fed by a approx 10V higher voltage than the bus voltage? This way the switch can be PWM’ed and also do steady on state. I’m thinking for example a UCC27533 gate driver, fed by a non-isoloted small step up converter, 12V->25V.
Thanks in advance.
Swagatam says
Hi, I can’t figure out the answer at this moment, will need to investigate it deeper to get a proper answer.
Marco says
Hi,
if i apply to your bidirectional switch a low level voltage, ( like 0.4 volt ) it not work a cause of Forward voltage of internal diode. How works the solid state relay, that works also 0.4 volt ?
Sorry for my english !
Swagatam says
Hi, can you show me the SSR datasheet where 0.4 V conduction is mentioned.
In the above article if the diodes are replaced with schottky diodes then the drop will be hardly 0.2V
Tommy Park says
Hi, Swagatam
I’m beginner for electric circuit. In your last figure,
Why is there diode and resistor in parallel between 2 mosfets?
Thanks.
Swagatam says
Hi Tommy, the 12 V zener ensures that the gate voltage never exceeds this value regardless of the gate supply input value. The 10K resistor enables the gates of the MOSFETs to be referenced to ground and ensures that the gates are never in the floating condition, which is a recommended practice for all N channel mosfets.
Tommy Park says
Thanks for your reply, I’ve got another question.
If power source A and B are same DC source like short circuit, how to decide flow direction(polarity) between A and B. I’m not fully understanding about schottky and charge pump relation as well.
Swagatam says
It won’t make sense if you use the same DC source for both the A/B points. The enable the current to flow, the A and B must be opposite in polarity, and with a series load, otherwise the current cannot flow.
The schottky diodes derive the voltage from A and B points and feeds them to the gate of the mosfets. If A and B voltage drops below 9V or 6V then the charge pump switches ON and boosts this voltage to higher levels so that the mosfet gates can receive optimal driving voltage. Both of these are optional, and can be replaced with customized gate feeds.
Mark says
This is a nice explanation, but the current path though the back2back mosfets is just wrong. The reason for putting another mosfet to the first one, instead of just a diode, is having the ability to block reverse current while also minimizing switching losses, because this parasitic body diode is almost always there and will make current flow when positive voltage is put across source-drain path, even if a mosfet is not turned on.
As you stated in a reply to a comment, the switching losses are indeed negligible. But that is because both of the mosfets conduct at the same time and one of the diodes that is forward biased is always bypassed by a conductive channel, depending on the current flow direction.
Swagatam says
Thank you, however I cannot see anything wrong in the current path. The diodes actually indicate the body diodes which conduct while the current passes through source to drain.
Mark says
An already conducting (turned on) mosfet doesn’t have a problem with conducting in both directions, because it does not act like a diode, but a resistor. The source-drain path will either conduct very well (depending on device’s RDSon) when turned on, or conduct through the diode even if the mosfet isn’t turned on. The diode will just prevent the voltage from exceeding a dangerous negative value on the drain in reference to source and that’s about it.
And depending on a body diode in a design isn’t usually bad practice. They are quite heavy-duty, especially in power mosfets, usually having the same rating as the mosfet itself.
Swagatam says
Yes that’s correct but the diode being forward biased will provide a better free path to the current, so that the current ignores the MOSFET and takes the easier path through the diode. If you connect a resistor and a diode in parallel the current will pass through the diode and not the resistor.
Mark says
Sure, that would be correct. Unless the resistor is in the milliohms range for a lower voltage power mosfet, meaning dozens of amps need to flow (if the datasheet allows that) to create a drop significant enough to make the diode open and start conducting.
But who would want their saturated mosfet to create such a drop?
Selcuk says
Dear Swagatam,
I greatly appreciate your attention to detail. Before I ask google, I usually come here to find answers. I see that you are also an inventor, therefore I’m assuming that you are also somewhat familiar with patent applications.
Right now, I’m trying to compare two patent applications each disclosing electrical circuits using bidirectional switches. However, I’m only a mechanical engineer, therefore my knowledge of such circuits is rather rudimentary. I was wondering if you would try to help me to figure out the differences between the electrical circuits and maybe help me to understand them. In return I would gladly donate to one of your current and/or future projects.
Thank you in advance
Best regards
Swagatam says
Thank you for the compliment Selcuk, appreciate it very much!
If you can send me the pictures through any online free image hosting site, then I can probably look into them and try to figure out.
Just upload the images to any free image hosting site, and provide the link here!
If it is within my reach, I will surely try to solve it for you!
Selcuk says
Dear Swagatam,
thank you for your reply. At the moment, it seems that I manage to solve the issue by myself. If I encounter further issues I would come back to you if you don’t mind.
Best regards.
Swagatam says
No problem Selcuk, wish you all the best!
Eric Pleace says
Very helpful – I’m building a voltage data logger. I need to switch in/out a couple of resistors to adjust the attenuation of a voltage divider to produce +/-5V from an arbitrary voltage into an ADC (via a precision rectifier). This just solved my switch problem.
And over the years I’ve found many helpful ideas from your posts 🙂
Thank you for your good work.
Swagatam says
Thank you, and glad you found the post helpful! Let me know if you have any further problems!
Ted says
I have a relay circuit where the contacts have to be isolated from the coil drive circuit, including the ground. I am switching three different DC power sources at once with 13 mechanical relays 400 times per second and have to keep both sides of the supplies isolated. I like the idea of MOSFETS as switches but haven’t figured out how to keep the gate supply grounds isolated from the source grounds. Any thoughts?
Swagatam says
You can probably try the last concept explained in the following article for solving the query:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/solid-state-relay-ssr-circuit-using-mosfets/
SAMUEL says
great website for both beginner and professional. one question: if we have a stove and dryer but our electric line is not enough for them to work same time. can you suggest a circuit or component that will cut the stove from power when dryer is working, and vice versa?? in other words allow only one of the two appliances to work at any time ?? by the way they both use 3phase power. thanks.
Swagatam says
Thank you for liking this website, you can simply do it with a relay, that will enable you a manual change over from one load to the other…
Mart says
Hi Swagatam,
Thanks for this information already! Just one quick question. Is this setup ensuring a SOA (safe operating area) for the FET’s? If not, how can we accomplish this?
We’re facing quite large inrush-currents and need protection for that.
Swagatam says
Hi Mart, SOA depends on your selection of the MOSFETs. If you ensure that the SOA of the devices are appropriately rated as per the input out specifications of the circuit, then all will be fine….
Tobias says
Will the body diodes in the MOSFET’s cause a voltage drop in both directions?
Swagatam says
negligible voltage drops….
shubham ingle says
hi Swagatam,
how to calculate the switching loss of the the mosfets in the common source configuration im using the common source n channel mosfet configuration in my AC load dimmer circuit.
im not able to find any document how to calculate the switching loses.
please let me know your comments
Swagatam says
Hi Shubham, switching losses will be through dissipation, RDSon of the MOSFET and the internal diode’s forward voltage drop specifications….these can be calculated by standard formulas.
shubham ingle says
Hi Swagatam,
im switching the MOSFETS by PWM signal, and the ON and OFF time is not Fixed, so im considering the DC at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% with the frequency of 1Khz. im using the combination as above using n channel MOSFET with High side driving
so if i consider the standard formula like this it will not applicable for my design.
Psw-H = 1/2 X Vin X Io X (tr +tf) X fsw
please correct me if im wrong.
please let me know your comments.
Thanks,
Shubham.
Swagatam says
Hi Shubham, the above explained bidirectional switch does not incorporate high side or low side mosfet as in H-bridge, so I think the mentioned formula might not be relevant for this concept.
Swagatam says
Don’t worry about it, I have official permission from ti.com to refer their concepts with a link back. ti.com allows bloggers to promote their datasheets, and applications with appropriate references.
I hope that answers your question.
Kurt E. Clothier says
This is true; however, you did not include the application note used in your references, nor did you include a source on every image you lifted. In fact, you did the opposite – adding your own watermark implies that you created the images, which you did not. Even edited, you have to give credit to the actual source. Otherwise, that’s plagiarism, friend.
Swagatam says
You can argue as much as you want, but all those are baseless. May be you do not know the exact purpose of a water mark it is to ensure that the images do not get copied by other sites without a credit. I have added my watermark in the middle of the image so that copying from here becomes impossible for other sites.
Better read the entire screenshot attached in the previous comment.
Rachit Dave says
Hello Sawagatam,
Thanks for the reply. We will try and update the same.
Rachit Dave says
Hello Swagatam,
Greetings…!
We are using Bi-directional N Channel Mosfet with Common Source config. We are using these in buck converter circuit. The issue we are facing is the left side N-channel Mosfet gets heated more when current in it increases to 15A DC. Let me know if any details you need further from my side.
Swagatam says
Hello Rachit, did you try operating the device normally like a simple bidirectional switch for a 15 amp load? Please try it normally without a buck converter, if it works without issues then the problem could be the buck converter circuit and the involved inductor specs.
Owen says
Hi Swagatam,
With regard to your silicon bidirectional switch, your ‘conduction path’ diagrams are really useful to understand what is going on. I do however have a comment: a turned-on FET will conduct in reverse through the FET itself, and when switched off it will only conduct through the body diode. When switched on (as it would be when it’s twin is turned on), the preference will usually be through the FET as its’ resistance will present a far lower voltage drop than the body diode will. So your diagrams should show that.
Also, there is no diagram for P-channel common-drain (although the N-channel has common-drain and common-source). I have not seen one of this configuration anywhere else either. Is there a reason for this? Would it work?
Swagatam says
Thanks Owen, The body diode is connected in reverse to the drain/source polarity of the FET, so if the FET is conducting would mean the body diode is reverse biased, so it can never conduct. P-channel MOSFET would also work using a slightly different configuration, however the P channels are seldom preferred as switches due to their high RDSon and inefficient response to high currents.
Owen says
Thanks for the reply.
What I was angling at was the FET that is conducting via the body diode (FET2 in the current flow diagram immediately under ‘Basic Functioning Details’). FET2 (being turned on at the same time as FET1) would have a milli-ohm resistance. From what I’ve read, a FET channel can conduct in both directions and if that is the case, the voltage drop across the channel would be lower than the voltage drop across the body diode. Much the same as the way I understand a syncronous rectifier works.
(sorry, I haven’t dealt much with FETs so I am only going on “internet information”)
Hence, when the “silicon bidirectional switch” is “on”, it appears to be a milli-ohm resistor rather than appearing to be a diode in series with a milli-ohm resistor?
Swagatam says
Sorry I have not yet investigated this aspect of a MOSFET. If that is the case then what is need of the “protection” body diode, since the MOSFET would easily bypass the reverse current also? In my opinion, when a positive is applied across gate/source, current cannot flow from source to drain.
Evans mworeh says
True sir swagatam, please investigate that aspect and let us know. Am really following
SteveOne says
During direct conduction (both MOSFETs ON) the current does NOT flow through the body diode. Otherwise, you would get a 0.6 – 0.9 V drop between in and out!
Swagatam says
that drop is negligible and acceptable. Current will always take the easier course, that is though the forward biased diode.
Amar says
Yes, you are right. The concept of back to back connected MOSFETs evolved only to block the reverse current flow from B to A when MOSFEts are turned off when potential at B is higher than A. When the back to back connected switch is made ON, the current flows only through ON resistances of both MOSFETs. Body diodes never come into picture during ON condition. Mr. Swagatham may comment please.
Swagatam says
Please contact the datasheet engineers for the clarification.
This also means when a single mosfet is used with an inductive load then the back EMF would force through the mosfet Source to drain and the body diodes would be meaningless.