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IRF520 MOSFET Driver Module – Complete Guide

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MOSFET Driver Module

IRF520 MOSFET Driver Module

Logic-Level PWM Switching for High-Current DC Loads

A MOSFET is fundamentally a voltage-controlled switch, and the IRF520 is a power MOSFET well suited to switching moderate DC currents - but wiring one up correctly on its own, with the right gate resistor, pull-down, and sometimes a flyback diode for inductive loads, is a small but easy-to-get-wrong exercise for anyone new to power electronics. This breakout module does that wiring for you: the IRF520 MOSFET sits on a small board with its gate already connected through the right supporting components to a simple 3-pin logic input, so a microcontroller's PWM-capable GPIO pin can directly switch or dim a connected DC load - anything from an LED strip to a small motor or a resistive heating element - well beyond what the GPIO pin itself could ever handle directly. Because a MOSFET's ”on” resistance is extremely low compared to a mechanical relay's contact resistance, and it has no moving parts to wear out or click, it's often the better choice specifically for PWM-dimmed or PWM-speed-controlled DC loads, where a relay would be unsuitable for rapid switching anyway.

Up to 24V
Max Switched Voltage
PWM Capable
Control
Logic-Level Gate
Trigger

Key features

PWM-Compatible Switching

Rapidly switches on and off for smooth dimming or speed control.

Logic-Level Trigger

Driven directly from a 3.3V/5V microcontroller PWM pin.

No Moving Parts

Unlike a relay, nothing to mechanically wear out under frequent switching.

Onboard Support Components

Gate resistor and pull-down already wired correctly.

Screw Terminal Connections

Solid, solder-free wiring for the switched load and power.

Low On-Resistance

Minimal voltage drop and heat generation while switched on.

Technical specifications

Logic Input Voltage 3.3V – 5V (logic-level compatible)
Max Switched Voltage Up to ~24V DC (load-side)
Max Switched Current Several amps (heatsinking/duty-cycle dependent)
MOSFET IRF520 N-channel power MOSFET
Control Signal Digital or PWM on the signal pin
Switching Type Low-side switching (load's negative side switched)
Onboard Components Gate resistor, pull-down resistor
Protection None built-in - add a flyback diode for inductive loads
Package Breakout board with screw terminals

Pinout

PinFunction
SIG PWM/digital control input
VCC / GND Logic side power
+V / -V(OUT) Switched load-side terminals

Applications

PWM LED strip dimming DC motor speed control Resistive heater duty-cycle control Solenoid/electromagnet PWM driving Solar charge controller switching General high-current DC load switching from a microcontroller

What's in the box

1x IRF520 MOSFET driver module

Downloads

Datasheet (PDF) Arduino PWM Dimming Example Sketch
🔌
Pin Connections
1 Table
Pin Connections Table 1
BoardSensor PinConnection
IRF520 ModuleSIG/GNDboard PWM pin / GND (load's own power wired to V+ and OUT terminals)
📟
IRF520 MOSFET DRIVER MODULE
7 Examples • C/C++ | Boards: Arduino Uno, Arduino Nano, Arduino Mega, ESP32, ESP8266, STM32, Raspberry Pi Pico
IRF520 MOSFET DRIVER MODULE - Arduino Uno
IRF520 MOSFET DRIVER MODULE - Arduino Nano
IRF520 MOSFET DRIVER MODULE - Arduino Mega
IRF520 MOSFET DRIVER MODULE - ESP32
IRF520 MOSFET DRIVER MODULE - ESP8266
IRF520 MOSFET DRIVER MODULE - STM32
IRF520 MOSFET DRIVER MODULE - Raspberry Pi Pico
📄 File: irf520_mosfet_driver_module_-_arduino_uno.inoArduino Uno
471 characters
1//ekostra.com
2//electronics store in egypt
3//+201008896258
4
5// Signal pin 9 on Arduino Uno - drives a high-current load (motor, LED strip, heater) switched by the onboard MOSFET.
6#define MOSFET_PIN 9
7
8void setup() {
9 Serial.begin(115200);
10 pinMode(MOSFET_PIN, OUTPUT);
11}
12
13void loop() {
14 for (int duty = 0; duty <= 255; duty += 5) { analogWrite(MOSFET_PIN, duty); delay(20); }
15 for (int duty = 255; duty >= 0; duty -= 5) { analogWrite(MOSFET_PIN, duty); delay(20); }
16}
📄 File: irf520_mosfet_driver_module_-_arduino_nano.inoArduino Nano
472 characters
1//ekostra.com
2//electronics store in egypt
3//+201008896258
4
5// Signal pin 9 on Arduino Nano - drives a high-current load (motor, LED strip, heater) switched by the onboard MOSFET.
6#define MOSFET_PIN 9
7
8void setup() {
9 Serial.begin(115200);
10 pinMode(MOSFET_PIN, OUTPUT);
11}
12
13void loop() {
14 for (int duty = 0; duty <= 255; duty += 5) { analogWrite(MOSFET_PIN, duty); delay(20); }
15 for (int duty = 255; duty >= 0; duty -= 5) { analogWrite(MOSFET_PIN, duty); delay(20); }
16}
📄 File: irf520_mosfet_driver_module_-_arduino_mega.inoArduino Mega
472 characters
1//ekostra.com
2//electronics store in egypt
3//+201008896258
4
5// Signal pin 9 on Arduino Mega - drives a high-current load (motor, LED strip, heater) switched by the onboard MOSFET.
6#define MOSFET_PIN 9
7
8void setup() {
9 Serial.begin(115200);
10 pinMode(MOSFET_PIN, OUTPUT);
11}
12
13void loop() {
14 for (int duty = 0; duty <= 255; duty += 5) { analogWrite(MOSFET_PIN, duty); delay(20); }
15 for (int duty = 255; duty >= 0; duty -= 5) { analogWrite(MOSFET_PIN, duty); delay(20); }
16}
📄 File: irf520_mosfet_driver_module_-_esp32.inoESP32
467 characters
1//ekostra.com
2//electronics store in egypt
3//+201008896258
4
5// Signal pin 25 on ESP32 - drives a high-current load (motor, LED strip, heater) switched by the onboard MOSFET.
6#define MOSFET_PIN 25
7
8void setup() {
9 Serial.begin(115200);
10 pinMode(MOSFET_PIN, OUTPUT);
11}
12
13void loop() {
14 for (int duty = 0; duty <= 255; duty += 5) { analogWrite(MOSFET_PIN, duty); delay(20); }
15 for (int duty = 255; duty >= 0; duty -= 5) { analogWrite(MOSFET_PIN, duty); delay(20); }
16}
📄 File: irf520_mosfet_driver_module_-_esp8266.inoESP8266
469 characters
1//ekostra.com
2//electronics store in egypt
3//+201008896258
4
5// Signal pin D1 on ESP8266 - drives a high-current load (motor, LED strip, heater) switched by the onboard MOSFET.
6#define MOSFET_PIN D1
7
8void setup() {
9 Serial.begin(115200);
10 pinMode(MOSFET_PIN, OUTPUT);
11}
12
13void loop() {
14 for (int duty = 0; duty <= 255; duty += 5) { analogWrite(MOSFET_PIN, duty); delay(20); }
15 for (int duty = 255; duty >= 0; duty -= 5) { analogWrite(MOSFET_PIN, duty); delay(20); }
16}
📄 File: irf520_mosfet_driver_module_-_stm32.inoSTM32
469 characters
1//ekostra.com
2//electronics store in egypt
3//+201008896258
4
5// Signal pin PA8 on STM32 - drives a high-current load (motor, LED strip, heater) switched by the onboard MOSFET.
6#define MOSFET_PIN PA8
7
8void setup() {
9 Serial.begin(115200);
10 pinMode(MOSFET_PIN, OUTPUT);
11}
12
13void loop() {
14 for (int duty = 0; duty <= 255; duty += 5) { analogWrite(MOSFET_PIN, duty); delay(20); }
15 for (int duty = 255; duty >= 0; duty -= 5) { analogWrite(MOSFET_PIN, duty); delay(20); }
16}
📄 File: irf520_mosfet_driver_module_-_raspberry_pi_pico.inoRaspberry Pi Pico
479 characters
1//ekostra.com
2//electronics store in egypt
3//+201008896258
4
5// Signal pin 15 on Raspberry Pi Pico - drives a high-current load (motor, LED strip, heater) switched by the onboard MOSFET.
6#define MOSFET_PIN 15
7
8void setup() {
9 Serial.begin(115200);
10 pinMode(MOSFET_PIN, OUTPUT);
11}
12
13void loop() {
14 for (int duty = 0; duty <= 255; duty += 5) { analogWrite(MOSFET_PIN, duty); delay(20); }
15 for (int duty = 255; duty >= 0; duty -= 5) { analogWrite(MOSFET_PIN, duty); delay(20); }
16}
MOSFET breakout for switching higher-current loads (LED strips, motors, heaters) from a logic-level GPIO pin.
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This module switches the load's negative/ground side, not the positive side - the load's positive terminal connects straight to your power supply, and the load's negative terminal routes through the module to the supply's actual ground, which trips up anyone expecting to switch the positive leg the way a simple relay diagram often shows. Motors, solenoids, and relay coils generate a voltage spike when suddenly switched off - add a flyback diode across the load if it's inductive, since this module doesn't include one, and repeated switching without one can degrade or kill the MOSFET over time. At higher currents the MOSFET can get genuinely warm, so check it periodically under real load and add a heatsink if it becomes hot to the touch during extended use.

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