Littelfuse introduces SMC automotive grade 3kA SIDACtor

This product is designed to provide robust and reliable high surge current protection for equipment operating in harsh environments, enabling designers to meet regulatory requirements more easily. View the video.

The key differentiator of the Pxxx0S3N-A series lies in its high-power density design, capable of withstanding surge currents up to 3 kA (8/20 µs) and voltages up to 6 kV with very low clamping voltage. This compact SIDACtor component, housed in the DO-214AB (SMC) package, allows automotive manufacturers to achieve high power density designs and product miniaturisation in automotive electronics.

Developed for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) applications, the Pxxx0S3N-A Series, when used in conjunction with a MOV combination, delivers superior transient surge protection for on-board chargers. By integrating this compact SIDACtor into their systems, automotive manufacturers can achieve more reliable, robust, and cost-efficient AC power protection for charging systems.

The new 3 kA SIDACtor is the first thyristor-based product in the DO-214AB package to provide surge protection of 6 kV / 3 kA (8/20 µs). Previously, achieving such high surge ratings would require a significantly larger TO-262 package. This compact-sized SIDACtor offers easy protection against severe transients, making it an ideal choice for exposed applications such as:

• Battery Electric Vehicles (EV/BEV)
• Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV)
• On Board Chargers (OBC)
• Charging piles
• EV wall chargers
• Energy Storage Systems

"While the Pxxx0S3N-A SIDACtor Series is suitable for various market segments, including automotive, industrial, and ICT electronics, it is ideally suited for high surge current protection in automotive electronics," said Charlie Cai, Director of Protection Semi Product Marketing, SBU at Littelfuse. "This automotive grade SIDACtor series enables product miniaturisation and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and product robustness."

This new SIDACtor Protection Thyristor Series offers the following key features and benefits:

• High surge protection: Capable of handling severe overvoltage transients, it safeguards equipment from high-energy surge events up to 6 kV / 3 kA while providing very low clamping voltage.
• Automotive grade: Enables equipment to function flawlessly in harsh, demanding environments while ensuring compliance with the AEC-Q101 standard.
• Compact design: DO-214AB package ensures product miniaturisation without compromising robustness, while assisting designers in compliance with stringent automotive grade requirements.
• Versatility: While engineered mainly for the automotive industry, particularly for On-Board-Chargers in BEV and PHEV applications, this SIDACtor series has potential applications in the industrial and ICT electronics sectors.
• Enhanced system reliability: The combination of this compact SIDACtor and an MOV for transient surge protection promises a significantly more reliable and cost-efficient on-board charger system. (See application note.)

Comparison to legacy solutions

Legacy solutions often presented challenges due to their bulky design, which could degrade over time, reducing their protective efficacy. The Pxxx0S3N-A is more compact and offers a surge rating ideal for highly exposed applications. It has a clear advantage over the Pxxx0FNL 3 kA SIDACtor series in the TO-262M package, requiring approximately 50% less PC board space.

This new product represents a leap forward, the first DO-214AB-sized product capable of handling a 6 kV / 3 kA (8/20) surge. Before this advancement, achieving such a level of protection would necessitate a much larger TO-262 package.