Electronic components such as supercapacitors, inductors, varistors, TVS diodes, SMD fuses, miniature fuses, PTC polymer fuses and fuse holders, among others, are indispensable elements of electrical and electronic circuits – they ensure stability, protection and control of electrical parameters. In this article, we present a brief overview of components by Eaton.
Passive components
Semiconductors
Fuses & protective components
Eaton is an international company that specialises in the design and manufacture of equipment and components for a variety of industries, including telecommunications, automotive, medical, defence and aerospace. An important division of Eaton includes electronic components such as power and EMC magnetics solutions, overvoltage and overcurrent circuit protection, supercapacitors, sensors and terminal blocks products which are used in a multitude of applications, including power supply for telecommunications systems, automotive safety systems, medical devices, etc. The company is certified under the ISO 9001 Quality Assurance System. International awards and certificates are clear evidence that the products developed by Eaton meet the latest safety standards and quality requirements. What is more, Eaton manufactures the Bussmann™ series of products which include fuses and protection devices.
PASSIVE COMPONENTS
Supercapacitors
Capacitors are some of the most common electronic components. They belong to the group of passive components, whose function is to store electrical energy. This process is carried out using two plates separated by a dielectric, in the electric field of which the energy is stored. The Eaton product range includes a rather specific type of capacitors – supercapacitors. They are a variation of electrolytic capacitors and are capable of storing large amounts of energy. Supercapacitors combine the characteristics of regular capacitors and rechargeable batteries, charging speed being their remarkable advantage. TME offers supercapacitors with capacitance ranging from 100 mF to as much as 3 kF, with operating voltages ranging from 2.5 V DC to 51.3 V DC. Moreover, these elements are characterised by a low resistance value (ESR) of 1.7 mΩ to 75 Ω and a leakage current in the range of 1 µA to 26 mA. Supercapacitors, depending on the model, are housed in various types of casings, which also differ in terms of lead spacing.
300 F SNAP-IN supercapacitor
Inductors
An inductor, like a coil, is an electronic component whose function is to prevent or limit sudden changes in electrical current without power loss in AC circuits. Inductors take the form of a wire wound on a magnetic core and are used primarily in noise suppression filters or DC/DC converters. Eaton supplies surface-mounted (SMD) inductors in both standard wire-wound and common-mode versions. These components are characterised by a range of parameters such as inductance (from 22 nH to 120 mH), operating current (from 68 mA to 78 A), saturation current (from 69 mA to 123 A) and resistance (from 360 µΩ to 150 Ω).These inductors are available in a variety of housing options.
SMD wire-wound inductor
Varistors
A varistor can be described as a resistor with a non-linear, voltage-dependent resistance characteristic. In these small components, the resistance decreases as the voltage increases, so they can be used as overvoltage protection elements. When overvoltage occurs, the varistor will absorb all the energy, and thus get damaged irreversibly, so that the remaining part of the circuit can remain intact. At TME, you will find Eaton varistors designed for surface mounting (SMD). They are made in several housing variants, from the smallest 0402 to the largest 4032. The most important parameter of this type of element is its rated voltage, which in this case ranges from 16 V to 240 V.
SEMICONDUCTORS
TVS diodes
At first glance, it may be hard to distinguish TVS diodes, or transient voltage suppression diodes, from standard semiconductor diodes. However, their application is quite different. A TVS diode works in a similar way to a varistor, but is much faster and has a very short response time. This design is mainly used to protect other components against surges (electrostatic discharges), which could permanently damage sensitive components. When the threshold voltage is exceeded, the diode starts to conduct current, so that the circuit can be disrupted quickly enough, and thus save the other components. TVS diodes by Eaton are uni- or bi-directional components, enclosed in compact SMD packages that are soldered onto the PCB. Their breakdown voltage ranges from 3.6 V to 543 V, depending on the model. Some diodes have been adapted to function as ESD protectors.
FUSES & PROTECTIVE COMPONENTS
SMD fuses
One of the standard types of protective components mounted directly on PCBs are SMD fuses. Thanks to their compact size, they can be fitted even in hard-to-reach places to protect an electrical circuit. SMD fuses by Eaton come in several housing variants: 0603, 2410, 3216 and UM. The fuse designs offer fast-acting or time-lag characteristics. The most important parameters of these devices include current and voltage ratings of 250 mA–15 A and 24–125 V in the DC variant and 32–350 V in the AC variant.
Miniature fuses
Miniature fuses, despite their name, are slightly larger than SMD designs. They usually take the form of a glass tube with a fuse wire inside, which blows when the current rating of the fuse is exceeded. Eaton has developed fuses in fast-acting, super fast-acting, time-lag and medium time-lag variants. Most of these are housed in the glass tube, however, components designed for THT mounting are also available – these include TE5 and TR5 fuses. Protective components from this manufacturer are capable of safeguarding a circuit against currents ranging from 30 mA to 30 A. Their voltage rating depends on the model, and for DC circuits it is 125 V, while for AC current it ranges from 32 V to 600 V.
PTC polymer fuses
Polymer PTC fuses by Eaton are designed for both THT and SMD mounting applications. On the outside, they resemble a capacitor or varistor, however, thanks to their housing, they can be successfully installed in equipment intended for everyday use. These components provide protection against currents in excess of 50 mA to 15 A at DC voltages in the range of 6 V to 60 V.
Fuse holders
In addition to fuses, Eaton also offers a range of holders designed to accommodate such components. These include: holders mounted directly on a DIN rail, holders mounted directly on a panel (enclosure), holders which allow the fuse to be mounted directly on the cable, as well as holders soldered to the PCB. Eaton offers a wide range of products to suit your target circuit.
