Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. introduced a new series of insulated, surface-mount inrush current limiting positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistors. Designed to increase board-level efficiency and lower costs in automotive and industrial applications, Vishay BCcomponents PTCES series devices combine maximum energy handling to 340 J with high maximum voltages of 1200 VDC in a compact package.
Compared to competing devices, the PTC thermistors released today offer up to 260 % higher energy handling capabilities, allowing designers to utilize fewer components in their circuits to save board space and lower overall costs. In addition, the PTCES series offers 20 % higher maximum voltages than competing devices to meet the requirements of a broader range of designs.
The thermistors provide current limitation and overload protection in AC/DC and DC/DC converters; DC-Link, energy dump, and emergency discharge circuits; on-board chargers (OBC) and battery charging equipment; and motor drives. For these applications, the self-protecting devices withstand > 100 000 inrush power cycles and are AEC-Q200 qualified for shock and vibration, eliminating the need for reinforced mounting adhesives.
The PTCES series barium titanate thermistors consist of a solder-connected homogeneous ceramic PTC encapsulated in a UL 94 V-0 compliant, self-extinguishing, washable plastic housing with insulation up to 3 kVAC. Offering a low profile of 9.6 mm, the RoHS-compliant, halogen-free devices can be automatically mounted by pick and place equipment to reduce placement costs.
Device Specification Table:
| Series | PTCES |
| R25 (Ω) | 60 to 1000 |
| R25 tolerance (%) | 30 |
| Max. AC voltage (VRMS) | 350 to 800 |
| Max. DC voltage (VDC) | 500 to 1200 |
| Maximum energy (J) @ 25 °C | 240, 340 |
| Heat capacity (J/K) | 2.4, 2.6 |
| Operating temperature (°C) | -40 to +105 |
Samples and production quantities of the PTCES series thermistors are available now, with lead times of 10 weeks.
