Note that unlike the N-channel MOSFET whose gate terminal must be made more positive (attracting electrons) than the source to allow current to flow through the channel, the conduction through the P-channel MOSFET is due to the flow of holes. That is the gate terminal of a P-channel MOSFET must be made more negative than the source and will only stop conducting (cut-off) until the gate is more positive than the source.
So for the enhancement type power MOSFET to operate as an analogue switching device, it needs to be switched between its “Cut-off Region” where VGS = 0 (or VGS = -ve) and its “Saturation Region” were VGS(on) = +ve. The power dissipated in the MOSFET ( PD ) depends upon the current flowing through the channel ID at saturation and also the “ON-resistance” of the channel given as RDS(on). For example.
MOSFET as a Switch Example No1
Lets assume that the lamp is rated at 6v, 24W and is fully “ON”, the standard MOSFET has a channel on-resistance ( RDS(on) ) value of 0.1ohms. Calculate the power dissipated in the MOSFET switching device.
The current flowing through the lamp is calculated as: