IGBTs explained and IGBT based heater controller

[high1voltage1rules]

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[high1voltage1rules]

Hey the mate it's blackmesa25. Yeah sorry mate iv had to make another account! As I was getting a lot of bad flagging and comments! So here I am with another one!! Hope it hasn't coursed any problems mate. And will try to bring some great videos.

Take care friend and be safe ;-)

[subcooledheatpump]

@high1voltage1rules Glad you're back. I was watching your videos and one day your channel disappeared. I was wondering what happend. I'll be waiting for some videos form you, if you're still making videos, I'll watch them.

[subcooledheatpump]

@blackmesa25 Well I was thinking about making another video, but you've just sealed the deal, now I'm for sure making another one. I'll be playing with some more interesting electronic toys and I'll try to explain everything a little better in the next video, thanks for watching, I'm glad you are enjoying my videos.

[stridermt2k]

Very cool video!

Definitely forwarded my understanding of IGBTs

Thanks for taking the time to make this video.

[umbuzi]

Your presentation is crap but you have a wonderful gift for teaching. As an instructor and a producer of television based video training material you have what it takes to inspire a learner. Good on ya from Aus!

[subcooledheatpump]

@blackmesa25 The SKM400 is a big IGBT.Driving that from 555 is possible in theory, but the switching frequency would need to be very low (1Khz max) and it would only drive the lower IGBT. What I would do, use a halfbridge driver like SG3525, get two opto isolaters, and two gate drivers like CLA360-ND. Then use two isolated power supplies to power each gate driver. feed the singal from the 3525 to the optical isolaters, then from the isolaters to the gate drivers. Good Luck, Thanks

[mrCbeems]

Also, what gate driver are you using? Would an IR2101 gate driver work for this project? Do gate drivers eliminate noise from the pwm? According to the IR2101 datasheet.. its Vs is wired directly to the load and the emitter of one of the IGBT's. how is this possible?

[subcooledheatpump]

@mrCbeems This won't be easy but, here goes. The gate driver for this project is an HCPL-3120 optically isolated gate driver. an IR2101 is a half bridge driver, this circuit is whats called an "IGBT Chopper" it doesn't use the upper element, only the upper diode.So an IR2101 would work but you'd have to disconnect the "High output". As for how the IR2101 works, it uses a "bootstrap circuit" that takes power from the DC bus to charge a capacitor in a pulse this gives power to the high gate driver

[mrCbeems]

@subcooledheatpump Thanks.. that was fast. Do you know what gate drivers your modified controller is using for your motor?

[mrCbeems]

Very nice! do you have a schematic of this water heater and also a schematic connecting 3 dual IGBT's to a 3 phase AC motor? this would be a BIG help. Great Work btw.

[subcooledheatpump]

@mrCbeems There is indeed a schematic of this heat controller, On my channel, watch the video "IGBT PWM controller finished" In the description there is a link at the bottom for a schematic.

[Nivicoman]

Go boom is right, the company I work for makes UPS's and power conditioners. Every now and then an IGBT lets go and makes a nice little explosion. From what I can gather a problem in the control section makes the wrong ones turn on or lets the inverter devices shoot through across the + and - DC rails. I heard of someone who metered an IGBT live and blew it up from current introduced into it's gate at something not high frequency PWM, likely either DC or 60 Hz. IGBT conducts too long POW!

[Duffytoler]

I'm an engineer who has used IGBT's for years - this is the best explanation for using them I've seen so far. THANK YOU. Next time someone asks, I'm just going to send them a link to this video.

[bejius]

How can I use an IGBT with AC ?

[subcooledheatpump]

@bejius Do you mean supply power to an IGBT with AC or use an IGBT to create an AC waveform?

If you're trying to supply an IGBT with AC power, all you really need is a rectifier and a capacitor bank.

To use an IGBT to create an AC waveform, then you would need a dual IGBT module, two gate drivers, two isolated power supplies and an inverter circuit to drive it.

Alternatively, you could also use a single IGBT module driving an inductance to create AC, but this would act like a boost converter.

[paytontech]

@bejius You have to rectify the AC to DC.