Circuit protection thermistor conserves power
A new UL-approved circuit protection thermistor has been released by Ametherm that helps to conserve power, save space, and lower costs for a wide variety of applications with hot resistance, current handling and energy ratings. The company claims that the SL32 0R230 is the only UL-approved circuit protection thermistor on the market with a maximum continuous current rating of 30A and 'hot' resistance on the order of just 6mΩ.
This capability minimises voltage drop to a range of 0.18-0.30V, which helps to maximise battery life and conserve power in applications such as inverters and motor drives.
Until now, designers typically needed to run two 50mΩ thermistors in parallel to achieve a comparable level of power efficiency. The SL32 0R230, with 20mΩ resistance at 50% of maximum current, allows designers to reduce component count while limiting excess circuit board heat, thanks to the device's low resistance and low I²R power consumption/loss.
A high UL-approved energy rating of 100J means the SL32 0R230 is suitable for DC applications where a lower level of inrush current is present but its duration is relatively long.
Maximum capacitance for the SL32 0R230 is 6,946μF at 120VAC and 1,736μF at 240VAC. The device's dissipation constant is 45.4mW/°C. The device has a maximum diameter of 31mm and height profile of 6mm.
The SL32 0R230 circuit protection thermistor is available direct or through distributors such as Digi-Key and Mouser. Samples and production quantities of the devices are available now, with factory lead times of six weeks.