FGH4L40T120RWD IGBT Specs Report — 1200V 40A Insight

29 January 2026 0
1200V
Collector Current
40A
Max Temp (Tj)
150°C

Product Overview & Package Background

FGH4L40T120RWD IGBT Physical Package and Design

The FGH4L40T120RWD presents a 1200V 40A class discrete IGBT intended for industrial inverter and power-supply applications. These ratings define system voltage margins, required current-carrying capacity of collectors and emitter conductors, and gate-driver isolation/protection requirements. Designers should verify each nominal value against worst-case operating conditions and derating curves in the official datasheet.

Core Electrical Identity

Point: State core rated values so designers can quickly map device to system.
Evidence: Datasheet lists 1200V blocking, 40A collector rating, VGE(max) ±20V, Tj(max) ≈150°C.
Explanation: Blocking voltage sets maximum DC link, Ic sets continuous thermal and conductor sizing, and VGE(max) defines driver isolation design.

Mechanical & Package Implications

Point: Package drives thermal path and mounting strategy.
Evidence: Supplied in a three-lead high-power discrete package with insulated/heatsink-mount options.
Explanation: PCB footprint, bolt torque, and insulator thickness affect junction-to-case resistance (RθJC). Always follow vendor outlines for heatsink interfaces.

Key Electrical Specifications Explained

Using the derating curve to compute allowable Ic at given Ta: Ic_allowed = Ic_rated × derating_factor(Ta). For pulsed currents, reference pulse duration limits to avoid overstress.

Parameter Datasheet Value (Example) Design Implication
Blocking Voltage 1200V Choose DC-link ≤ 800–900V for safety margin
Continuous Ic 40A Derate by Tcase/Ta curves for long-term reliability
Pulsed Current Refer to Pulse Chart Limit pulse width and duty cycle per SOA boundaries

VCE(sat) Impact on Conduction Loss

Conduction loss often dominates at low switching frequencies. Pcond = VCE(sat) × Ic.
Example: with VCE(sat)=2.0V at 40A, Pcond = 80W per device. Designers should size cooling to remove this steady-state power.

Switching Performance & Dynamic Behavior

Convert per-switch energy to average switching loss: Psw = (Eon + Eoff) × fsw × duty_factor. Ensure test conditions used match your operating Vcc/Ic.

Test Condition Eon Eoff Comment
VCC=600V, Ic=20A, Rg=10Ω Datasheet Value Datasheet Value Use for preliminary Psw budgeting

Gate Drive Requirements

  • Miller Charge: Qg, Qgs, Qgd shape driver current needs.
  • Peak Current: Driver must source/sink Qg × Vdrive / trise.
  • Ranging: Typical Rg is 5–20Ω to balance speed vs overshoot.
  • Protection: Add RC damping to control ringing from parasitic inductance.

Thermal & Reliability Modeling

Steady-state Junction Temperature: Tj = Ta + Pd × RθJA (or Tj = Tc + Pd × RθJC for heatsink designs).

Adopt conservative margins (10–20°C below Tj(max)) and validate with thermal imaging under full-load conditions to ensure device survival during startup and faults.

Application Scenarios

Industrial Drives
Medium-voltage three-phase inverters.
Traction Subsystems
Half-bridge configurations for light rail.
Power Supplies
High-voltage resonant converters.
Solar Inverters
String inverters with 600-900V DC links.

Selection & Integration Checklist (FAQ)

Pre-selection Validation Checklist
  • Confirm DC-link and transient margin vs 1200V rating.
  • Verify continuous Ic and pulsed limits against load profiles.
  • Assess thermal budget: Pd estimates and RθJC implications.
  • Check gate-drive voltage and peak current vs Qg.
  • Validate short-circuit duration and SOA boundaries.
  • Review mechanical mounting and supply-chain risk.
Assembly & Testing Best Practices

Bench plan should include:

  • Controlled switching tests (specify VCC, Ic, Rg).
  • Thermal imaging under steady-state load.
  • SOA pulse testing and end-of-line checks.
  • Capturing loss maps and switching waveforms for dossier.

Executive Summary

  • Robust Solution: The FGH4L40T120RWD offers a 1200V 40A solution for medium-voltage inverter legs where voltage margin is critical.
  • Key Caveats: Switching energy and VCE(sat) rise with temperature; mechanical thermal interface is vital.
  • Recommendation: Evaluate with conservative thermal margining and full SOA tests before volume commitment for US industrial designs.

Reference the manufacturer datasheet and run validation tests before final implementation.