Low-side gate driver for N-channel MOSFETs
The Maxim MAX5048CAUT+T is a single-channel, low-side gate driver for N-channel MOSFETs. Peak output current is 3A source and 7A sink, with rise and fall times of 28ns and 13ns.
Peak current and switching speed — what they mean for your design
The 3A source / 7A sink peak current rating is the key parameter for driving the gate capacitance of a power MOSFET. A higher sink current (7A) means faster turn-off, reducing switching losses and cross-conduction in half-bridge topologies. The 28ns rise and 13ns fall times are typical at a given load capacitance — expect these to scale with the total gate charge of the MOSFET you select. If you are driving a large IGBT or paralleled MOSFETs, verify the driver's peak current against the gate charge curve, not just the headline number.
Package and thermal considerations
The SOT-23-6 package is compact, but its thermal dissipation is limited. The driver is rated for continuous operation up to 150°C junction temperature, but at high switching frequencies or with large gate charge loads, the package may overheat. Ensure adequate PCB copper area for heat sinking, and consider the total power dissipation from gate drive losses (Qg × Vdd × fsw). For high-frequency or high-current applications, a driver in a larger package (e.g., SOIC-8) may be necessary.
Lifecycle and sourcing
It is ROHS3 compliant.