What is the formula for Gate-Driver Peak Current?

The Gate-Driver Peak Current formula is Ipk = Vdrive / (Rdrv + Rg), where Ipk—Peak gate-drive current (A); Vdrive—Gate drive voltage (V); Rdrv—Driver internal output resistance (Ω); Rg—External gate resistor (Ω).

What does Ipk mean in the Gate-Driver Peak Current formula?

Ipk is Peak gate-drive current (A).

Gate-Driver Peak Current

Q: How do you calculate Gate-Driver Peak Current?

Use the formula Ipk = Vdrive / (Rdrv + Rg). The peak current a gate driver delivers to a MOSFET gate is the drive voltage divided by the total series resistance—the driver’s own output resistance plus the external gate resistor. Enter the values you know in the calculator above and it solves for the remaining variable.

Ipk = Vdrive / (Rdrv + Rg)

Calculator

Peak Gate Current

Drive Voltage

Driver Resistance

Gate Resistance

Result

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Formula

Ipk = Vdrive / (Rdrv + Rg)

Description

The peak current a gate driver delivers to a MOSFET gate is the drive voltage divided by the total series resistance—the driver’s own output resistance plus the external gate resistor. This peak current charges the gate capacitance and sets how fast the device switches: more current means faster edges and lower switching loss, but also more ringing and EMI.

Variables

Ipk — Peak gate-drive current (A)
Vdrive — Gate drive voltage (V)
Rdrv — Driver internal output resistance (Ω)
Rg — External gate resistor (Ω)

Practical Notes

Increase Rg to slow the edges and tame ringing/EMI; decrease it to cut switching loss. The driver must be rated for this peak current, even though it flows only briefly.

Related Concepts

All Semiconductors formulas →

MOSFET Conduction Loss MOSFET Switching Loss BJT Total Dissipation Diode Power Loss Zener Regulation Resistor Transistor Current Gain (β) MOSFET Gate Drive Power MOSFET Rds(on) vs Temperature

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