So how do I use IGBT?

[technix]

I have a few IRG4BC20KD IGBTs I bought with the intention to experiment with, but I had zero idea how to use it. What kind of beginner's experiments can I try with it?

I have a 20V supply (a Dell 65W laptop power supply,) level shifters to interface microcontrollers (IR2101 and IR2110) as well as microcontrollers that supports high-seed PWM and dead-time control (STM32F103CB @ 72MHz and ATtiny85 @ 64MHz)

[bktemp]

IGBTs are very similar to MOSFETs. So you can use them like MOSFETs.
IGBTs will work at 20V, but at low voltages (<200V) MOSFETs are better, because of the faster switching speed (lower switching losses) and lower voltage drop (lower conduction losses).

[technix]

IGBTs are very similar to MOSFETs. So you can use them like MOSFETs.
IGBTs will work at 20V, but at low voltages (<200V) MOSFETs are better, because of the faster switching speed (lower switching losses) and lower voltage drop (lower conduction losses).

So I can just use those the same way as MOSFETs? Can I use those in linear region for low-power experiments (I use my IRF540 and IRF4905 in linear region fairly often?)

[bktemp]

An IGBT is basically a PNP transistor driven by an N-channel MOSFET. So the input behaves like a MOSFET with a slightly higher threshold voltage.
IGBTs are designed for switching operation, therefore most datasheets do not have any specifications for linear operation. Manufacturers also do not recommend linear operation.
But you can use them for linear operation at low power levels (similar to mosfets, maybe up to 30W for TO220 and 50W or so for TO247 package, depending on the voltage).

[Cliff Matthews]

An IGBT is basically a PNP transistor driven by an N-channel MOSFET. So the input behaves like a MOSFET with a slightly higher threshold voltage.
IGBTs are designed for switching operation, therefore most datasheets do not have any specifications for linear operation. Manufacturers also do not recommend linear operation.
But you can use them for linear operation at low power levels (similar to mosfets, maybe up to 30W for TO220 and 50W or so for TO247 package, depending on the voltage).

I have 2 IGBT half-bridge modules pulled from a crashed golf-cart, with hopes one day of using them as lone series pass devices.. A spec sheet on a similar 150amp model shows SOA of only 4 amps with Vce of only 50v (that sucks..) Am I reading this right? 

[edpalmer42]

I scavenged a couple of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/181361997908 out of a large UPS.  Testing has shown that they're IGBTs, but no info is available on them.  How can you measure or estimate the ratings of an IGBT?

[Cliff Matthews]

I scavenged a couple of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/181361997908 out of a large UPS.  Testing has shown that they're IGBTs, but no info is available on them.  How can you measure or estimate the ratings of an IGBT?

Take that sticker off the side.. But guard G1/B1 and G2/B2 pins from static first. ** like this:

[Cliff Matthews]

This may help you: http://www.irf.com/product-info/datasheets/data/irfk3d350.pdf
** Similar: http://jxfmodules.en.alibaba.com/product/60430037948-800178149/IR_mosfet_transistor_IRFK6J450.html