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Thyristor protects EVs from voltage and current surges

By Redding Traiger | November 9, 2023

Littelfuse, Inc. announced the launch of its new Pxxx0S3N-A Automotive Grade 3kA SIDACtor Protection Thyristor Series in DO-214AB (SMC) package. This innovative 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.

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 miniaturization 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, and Energy Storage Systems.

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 miniaturization without compromising robustness while assisting designers in compliance with stringent automotive grade requirements.

Versatility: While engineered mainly for the automotive industry, particularly for onboard 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 a MOV for transient surge protection promises a significantly more reliable and cost-efficient onboard charger system. (See application note.)

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.

The Pxxx0S3N-A Series SIDACtor Protection Thyristors are available in tape-and-reel quantities of 3,000. Place sample requests through authorized Littelfuse distributors worldwide. For a listing of Littelfuse distributors, please visit Littelfuse.com.

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Filed Under: Componentry, Power Electronics, Tools
Tagged With: littelfuse
 

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