Welcome to PCIM: Demystifying Wolfspeed’s SpeedVal evaluation kit for silicon carbide MOSFETs!

ipXchange is back from another show, PCIM Europe, and we begin our coverage with a great chat with Wolfspeed, whose discrete silicon carbide (SiC) devices offer higher current ratings and lower RDS(On) than competitor alternatives, resulting in higher efficiencies in your application. Though ipXchange has covered SpeedVal before, we were glad to finally see this versatile, modular evaluation platform in person.

In this interview, Adam explains it all, starting with an overview of what can be tested. Supporting 650-1200 V devices, there are currently 15 MOSFET daughter card options, with the range due to be expanded soon. In combination with familiar gate drivers from top manufacturers, the SpeedVal kit allows engineers to evaluate the performance of Wolfspeed’s SiC MOSFETs for use in many power applications, ranging from industrial devices to server power supplies. Switching losses, turn off/on time, and more can be obtained using this kit in the standard double-pulse testing configuration. With an additional filter board, it can also operate as a buck or boost convertor for continuous testing at up to 40 A at 900 V.