Selection Guide

Fuse Characteristics, Terms

and Consideration Factors
 FUSEOLOGY
Selection Guide
Fuse Characteristics,
Terms and Consideration
Factors
About this guide
Fuses are current-sensitive devices that provide reliable protection for discrete components
or circuits by melting under current overload conditions. Choosing the right fuse for your
application can be an overwhelming, time-consuming process, even for a seasoned
electronics design engineer. This user-friendly Fuseology Selection Guide makes the fuse
selection process quick and easy-helping you optimize the reliability and performance of
the application.

Table of Contents Page

Fuse Characteristics, Terms and Consideration Factors 24
Fuse Selection Checklist 57
PTC Characteristics and Terms 89
PTC Product Applications 10
Typical PTC Circuit Protection Designs 11
Standards 1214
PTC Selection Worksheet 15
Fuse and PTC Products Selection Guide 1618
Packaging and Part Numbering 19
Legal Disclaimers 20

2014 Littelfuse, Inc.

Specifications descriptions and illustrative material in this literature are as accurate as known at the time of publication,
but are subject to changes without notice. Visit littelfuse.com for more information.
 Fuseology Selection Guide

Fuse Characteristics, Terms and Consideration Factors

The purpose of this introductory section is to promote these standards include: fully enclosed fuseholders, high
a better understanding of both fuses and common contact resistances, air movement, transient spikes, and
application details within circuit design. changes in connecting cablesize (diameter and length).
Fuses are essentially temperature-sensitive devices. Even
The fuses to be considered are current sensitive devices small variations from the controlled test conditions can
designed to serve as the intentional weak link in the greatly affect the predicted life of a fuse when it is loaded
electrical circuit. Their function is to provide protection of to its nominal value, usually expressed as 100% of rating.
discrete components, or of complete circuits, by reliably
melting under current overload conditions. This section The circuit design engineer should clearly understand
will cover some important facts about fuses, selection that the purpose of these controlled test conditions is to
considerations and standards. enable fuse manufacturers to maintain unified performance
standards for their products, and he must account for
The application guidelines and product data in this guide the variable conditions of his application. To compensate
are intended to provide technical information that will for these variables, the circuit design engineer who is
help with application design. The fuse parameters and designing for trouble-free, long-life fuse protection in his
application concepts presented should be well understood equipment generally loads his fuse not more than 75%
in order to properly select a fuse for a given application. of the nominal rating listed by the manufacturer,keeping
in mind that overload and short circuit protection must be
Since these are only a few of the contributing parameters, adequately provided for.
application testing is strongly recommended and should be
used to verify performance in the circuit / application. The fuses under discussion are temperature-sensitive
devices whose ratings have been established in a 25C
Littelfuse reserves the right to make changes in product ambient. The fuse temperature generated by the current
design, processes, manufacturing location and information passing through the fuse increases or decreases with
without notice. For current Littelfuse product infomation, ambient temperature change.
please visit our web site at www.littelfuse.com.
The ambient temperature chart in the FUSE SELECTION
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE: Refers to the temperature CHECKLIST section illustrates the effect that ambient
of the air immediately surrounding the fuse and is not to temperature has on the nominal current rating of a fuse.
be confused with room temperature. The fuse ambient Most traditional Slo-Blo Fuse designs use lower melting
temperature is appreciably higher in many cases, because temperature materials and are, therefore, more sensitive to
it is enclosed (as in a panel mount fuseholder) or mounted ambient temperature changes.
near other heat producing components, such as resistors,
transformers, etc. DIMENSIONS: Unless otherwise specified, dimensions
are in inches.
BREAKING CAPACITY: Also known as interrupting rating
or short circuit rating, this is the maximum approved The fuses in this catalog range in size from the approx.
current which the fuse can safely break at rated voltage. 0402 chip size (.041L.020W.012H) up to the 5
Please refer to the INTERRUPTING RATING definition of AG, also commonly known as aMIDGET fuse (13/32
this section for additional information. Dia.11/2 Length). As new products were developed
throughout the years, fuse sizes evolved to fill the various
CURRENT RATING: The nominal amperage value of the electrical circuit protection needs.
fuse. It is established by the manufacturer as a value of
current which the fuse can carry, based on a controlled set The first fuses were simple, open-wire devices, followed
of test conditions (See RERATING section). in the 1890s by Edisons enclosure of thin wire in a lamp
base to make the first plug fuse. By 1904, Underwriters
Catalog Fuse part numbers include series identification Laboratories had established size and rating specifications
and amperage ratings. Refer to the FUSE SELECTION to meet safety standards. The renewable type fuses and
CHECKLIST section for guidance on making the proper automotive fuses appeared in 1914, and in 1927 Littelfuse
choice. started making very low amperage fuses for the budding
RERATING: For 25C ambient temperatures, it is electronics industry.
recommended that fuses be operated at no more than The fuse sizes in following chart began with the early
75% of the nominal current rating established using the Automobile Glass fuses, thus the term AG. The
controlled test conditions. These test conditions are part of numbers were applied chronologically as different
UL/CSA/ANCE (Mexico) 248-14 Fuses for Supplementary manufacturers started making a new size: 3AG, for
Overcurrent Protection, whose primary objective is example, was the third size placed on the market. Other
to specify common test standards necessary for the non-glass fuse sizes and constructions were determined by
continued control of manufactured items intended for functional requirements, but they still retained the length
protection against fire, etc. Some common variations of or diameter dimensions of the glass fuses. Their

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 2 www.littelfuse.com

Fuseology Selection Guide

Fuse Characteristics, Terms and Consideration Factors (continued)

designation was modified to AB in place of AG, indicating fuses up to 200,000 amperes for the 600VAC KLK series.
that the outer tube was constructed from Bakelite, fibre, Information on other fuse series can be obtained from the
ceramic, or a similar material other than glass. The largest Littelfuse.
size fuse shown in the chart is the 5AG, or MIDGET,
a name adopted from its use by the electrical industry Fuses listed in accordance with UL/CSA/ANCE 248 are
and the National Electrical Code range which normally required to have an interrupting rating of 10,000 amperes
recognizes fuses of 9/16 2 as the smallest standard at 125V, with some exceptions (See STANDARDS section)
fuse in use. which, in many applications, provides a safety factor far in
FUSE SIZES excess of the short circuit currents available.
SIZE DIAMETER (Inches) LENGTH (Inches)
1AG 1/4 .250 5/8 .625 NUISANCE OPENING: Nuisance opening is most often
2AG .177 .588 caused by an incomplete analysis of the circuit under
3AG 1/4 .250 1 1.25 consideration.
4AG 9/32 .281 1 1.25
5AG 13/32 .406 1 1.50 Of all the Selection Factors listed in the FUSE
7AG 1/4 .250 78 .875 SELECTION CHECKLIST, special attention must be given
8AG 1/4 .250 1 1 to items 1, 3, and 6, namely, normal operating current,
ambient temperature, and pulses.
TOLERANCES: The dimensions shown in this catalog
are nominal. Unless otherwise specified, tolerances are For example, one prevalent cause of nuisance opening in
applied as follows. Tolerances do not apply to lead lengths: conventional power supplies is the failure to adequately
consider the fuses nominal melting I2t rating. The fuse
.010 for dimensions to 2 decimal places. cannot be selected solely on the basis of normal operating
.005 for dimensions to 3 decimal places. current and ambient temperature. In this application, the
fuses nominal melting I2t rating must also meet the inrush
Contact Littelfuse should you have questions regarding
current requirements created by the input capacitor of the
metric system and fractional tolerances.
power supplys smoothing filter.
FUSE CHARACTERISTICS: This characteristic of a fuse
design refers to how rapidly it responds to various current The procedure for converting various waveforms into
overloads. Fuse characteristics can be classified into three I2t circuit demand is given in the FUSE SELECTION
general categories: very fast-acting, fast-acting, or Slo-Blo CHECKLIST. For trouble-free, long-life fuse protection, it is
Fuse. The distinguishing feature of Slo-Blo fuses is that good design practice to select a fuse such that the I2t of
these fuses have additional thermal inertia designed to the waveform is no more than 20% of the nominal melting
tolerate normal initial or start-up overload pulses. I2t rating of the fuse. Refer to the section on PULSES in the
FUSE SELECTION CHECKLIST.
FUSE CONSTRUCTION: Internal construction may vary
depending on ampere rating. Fuse photos in this catalog RESISTANCE: The resistance of a fuse is usually an
show typical construction of a particular ampere rating insignificant part of the total circuit resistance. Since the
within the fuse series. resistance of fractional amperage fuses can be several
ohms, this fact should be considered when using them
FUSEHOLDERS: In many applications, fuses are in low-voltage circuits. Actual values can be obtained by
installed in fuseholders. These fuses and their associated contacting Littelfuse.
fuseholders are not intended for operation as a switch
for turning power on and off . Most fuses are manufactured from materials which have
positive temperature coefficients, and, therefore, it is
INTERRUPTING RATING: Also known as breaking common to refer to cold resistance and hot resistance
capacity or short circuit rating, the interrupting rating is (voltage drop at rated current), with actual operation being
the maximum approved current which the fuse can safely somewhere in between.
interrupt at rated voltage. During a fault or short circuit
condition, a fuse may receive an instantaneous overload Cold resistance is the resistance obtained using a
current many times greater than its normal operating measuring current of no more than 10% of the fuses
current. Safe operation requires that the fuse remain intact nominal rated current. Values shown in this publication for
(no explosion or body rupture) and clear the circuit. cold resistance are nominal and representative. The factory
should be consulted if this parameter is critical to the
Interrupting ratings may vary with fuse design and range design analysis.
from 35 amperes for some 250VAC metric size (520mm) Hot resistance is the resistance calculated from the

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 3 www.littelfuse.com

 Fuseology Selection Guide

Fuse Characteristics, Terms and Consideration Factors (continued)

stabilized voltage drop across the fuse, with current equal VOLTAGE RATING: The voltage rating, as marked on a
to the nominal rated current flowing through it. Resistance fuse, indicates that the fuse can be relied upon to safely
data on all Littelfuse products are available on request. interrupt its rated short circuit current in a circuit where the
Fuses can be supplied to specified controlled resistance voltage is equal to, or less than, its rated voltage.
tolerances at additional cost.
This system of voltage rating is covered by N.E.C.
SOLDERING RECOMMENDATIONS: Since most fuse regulations and is a requirement of Underwriters
constructions incorporate soldered connections, caution Laboratories as a protection against fire risk. The standard
should be used when installing those fuses intended to voltage ratings used by fuse manufacturers for most small-
be soldered in place. The application of excessive heat can dimension and midget fuses are 32, 63, 125, 250 and 600.
reflow the solder within the fuse and change its rating.
Fuses are heat-sensitive components similar to semi- In electronic equipment with relatively low output power
conductors, and the use of heat sinks during soldering is supplies, with circuit impedance limiting short circuit
often recommended. currents to values of less than ten times the current rating
of the fuse, it is common practice to specify fuses with
125 or 250 volt ratings for secondary circuit protection of
500 volts or higher.

As mentioned previously (See RERATING section), fuses

are sensitive to changes in current, not voltage, maintaining
their status quo at any voltage up to the maximum rating
of the fuse. It is not until the fuse element melts and
arcing occurs that the circuit voltage and available power
become an issue. The safe interruption of the circuit, as it
relates to circuit voltage and available power, is discussed
in the section on INTERRUPTING RATING.
Lead-Free Soldering Parameters (most instances): To summarize, a fuse may be used at any voltage that is
Wave Solder 260C, 10 seconds max less than its voltage rating without detriment to its fusing
Reflow Solder 260C, 30 seconds max characteristics. Please contact the factory for applications
TEST SAMPLING PLAN: Because compliance with certain at voltages greater than the voltage rating.
specifications requires destructive testing, these tests are
selected on a statistical basis for each lot manufactured. DERIVATION OF NOMINAL MELTING I2t: Laboratory
tests are conducted on each fuse design to determine the
TIME-CURRENT CURVE: The graphical presentation of amount of energy required to melt the fusing element. This
the fusing characteristic, time-current curves are generally energy is described as nominal melting I2t and is expressed
average curves which are presented as a design aid but as Ampere Squared Seconds (A2 sec.).
are not generally considered part of the fuse specification.
Time-current curves are extremely useful in defining A pulse of current is applied to the fuse, and a time
a fuse, since fuses with the same current rating can measurement is taken for melting to occur. If melting
be represented by considerably different time-current does not occur within a short duration of about 8
curves. The fuse specification typically will include a life milliseconds (0.008 seconds) or less, the level of pulse
requirement at 100% of rating and maximum opening current is increased. This test procedure is repeated until
times at overload points (usually 135% and 200% of rating melting of the fuse element is confined to within about 8
depending on fuse standard characteristics). A time-current milliseconds.
curve represents average data for the design; how ever,
The purpose of this procedure is to assure that the heat
there may be some differences in the values for any one
created has insufficient time to thermally conduct away
given production lot. Samples should be tested to verify
from the fuse element. That is, all of the heat energy (I2t)
performance, once the fuse has been selected.
is used, to cause melting. Once the measurements of
UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES: Reference to Listed current (I) and time (t) are determined, it is a simple matter
by Underwriters Laboratories signifies that the fuses to calculate melting I2t. When the melting phase reaches
meet the requirements of UL/CSA/ANCE 248-14 Fuses completion, an electrical arc occurs immediately prior to
for Supplementary Overcurrent Protection. Some 32 the opening of the fuse element.
volt fuses (automotive) in this catalog are listed under Clearing I2t = Melting I2t + arcing I2t
UL Standard 275. Reference to Recognized under the
Component Program of Underwriters Laboratories The nominal I2t values given in this publication pertain to
signifies that the item is recognized under the component the melting phase portion of the clearing or opening.
program of Underwriters Laboratories and application Alternatively the time can be measured at 10 times of the
approval is required. rated current and the I2t value is calculated like above.

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 4 www.littelfuse.com

Fuseology Selection Guide

Fuse Selection Checklist

The application guidelines and product data in this guide Ambient temperature effects are in addition to the
are intended to provide technical information that will help normal re-rating, see example. Example: Given a normal
with application design. Since these are only a few of the operating current of 1.5 amperes in an application using
contributing parameters, application testing is strongly a traditional Slo-Blo fuse at room temperature, then:
recommended and should be used to verify performance in
the circuit/application. Normal Operating Current
Catalog Fuse Rating =
Many of the factors involved with fuse selection are listed 0.75
- or -
below. For additional assistance with choosing fuses 1.5 Amperes
appropriate to you requirements, contact your Littelfuse = 2.0 Amp Fuse (at 25C)
products reprentative. 0.75

Similarly, if that same fuse were operated at a very high

Selection Factors ambient temperature of 70C, additional derating would
be necessary. Curve "A" (Traditional Slo-Blo Fuse) of
1. Normal operating current
that ambient temperature chart shows the maximum
2. Application voltage (AC or DC) operating "Percent of Rating" at 70C to be 80%, in
which case;
3. Ambient temperature
Normal Operating Current
4. Overload current and length of time in which the Catalog Fuse Rating =
fuse must open 0.75 x Percent of Rating
- or -
5. Maximum available fault current 1.5 Amperes
= 2.5 Amp Fuse (at 70C)
6. Pulses, Surge Currents, Inrush Currents, Start-up 0.75 x 0.80
Currents, and Circuit Transients
This charts shows typical ambient temperature effects on
7. Physical size limitations, such as length, diameter, current carrying capacity of Littelfuse products. For specific
or height re-rating information, please consult the product data sheet
8. Agency Approvals required, such as UL, CSA, VDE, at www.littelfuse.com or contact a Littelfuse representative.
METI, MITI or Military
9. Fuse features (mounting type/form factor, ease of
removal, axial leads, visual indication, etc.)
10. Fuseholder features, if applicable and associated
rerating (clips, mounting block, panel mount, PC
board mount, R.F.I. shielded, etc.)
11. Application testing and verification prior to
production

1. NORMAL OPERATING CURRENT: The current rating

of a fuse is typically derated 25% for operation at 25C to
avoid nuisance blowing. For example, a fuse with a current
rating of 10A is not usually recommended for operation at
more than 7.5A in a 25C ambient. For additional details, Curve A: Thin-Film Fuses and 313 Series (.010 to .150A)
see RERATING in the previous section and AMBIENT Curve B: FLAT-PAK, TeleLink, Nano2, PICO, Blade
TEMPERATURE below. Terminal and other leaded and catridge fuses
2. APPLICATION VOLTAGE: The voltage rating of the Curve C: Resettable PTCs
fuse must be equal to, or greater than, the available circuit
voltage. For exceptions, see VOLTAGE RATING.

3. AMBIENT TEMPERATURE: The current carrying

capacity tests of fuses are performed at 25C and will be
affected by changes in ambient temperature. The higher
the ambient temperature, the hotter the fuse will operate,
and the shorter its life. Conversely, operating at a lower
temperature will prolong fuse life. A fuse also runs hotter
as the normal operating current approaches or exceeds the
rating of the selected fuse. Practical experience indicates
fuses at room temperature should last indefinitely, if
operated at no more than 75% of catalog fuse rating.

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 5 www.littelfuse.com

 Fuseology Selection Guide

Fuse Selection Checklist (continued)

4. OVERLOAD CURRENT CONDITION: The current level is capable of withstanding 100,000 pulses of current (I) of
for which protection is required. Fault conditions may be the pulse waveform shown in Figure 1.
specified, either in terms of current or, in terms of both
current and maximum time the fault can be tolerated The normal operating current is 0.75 ampere at an ambient
before damage occurs. Time-current curves should be temperature of 25C.
consulted to try to match the fuse characteristic to the
circuit needs, while keeping in mind that the curves are Step 1 Refer to Chart 1 and select the appropriate
based on average data. pulsewaveform, which is waveform (E) in this example.
Place the applicable value for peak pulse current (ip) and
5. MAXIMUM FAULT CURRENT: The Interrupting Rating time (t) into the corresponding formula for waveshape (E),
of a fuse must meet or exceed the Maximum Fault Current and calculate the result, as shown:
of the circuit. 1
I2t = (iP) 2t
6. PULSES: The general term pulses is used in this 5
context to describe the broad category of wave shapes
1
referred to as surge currents, start-up currents, inrush = 82.004 = 0.0512 A2 Sec.
currents, and transients. Electrical pulse conditions can 5
vary considerably from one application to another. Different
fuse constructions may not react the same to a given This value is referred to as the Pulse I2t.
pulse condition. Electrical pulses produce thermal cycling
Step 2 Determine the required value of Nominal Melting
and possible mechanical fatigue that could affect the life
I2t by referring to Chart 2. A figure of 22% is shown in
of the fuse. Initial or start-up pulses are normal for some
Chart II for 100,000 occurrences of the Pulse I2t calculated
applications and require the characteristic of a Slo-Blo
in Step 1. This Pulse I2t is converted to its required value of
fuse. Slo-Blo fuses incorporate a thermal delay design
Nominal Melting I2t as follows:
to enable them to survive normal start-up pulses and still
provide protection against prolonged overloads. The start- Nom. Melt I2t = Pulse I2t/.22
up pulse should be defined and then compared to the time-
current curve and I2t rating for the fuse. Application testing 0.0512/.22 = 0.2327 A2 Sec.
is recommended to establish the ability of the fuse design
to withstand the pulse conditions. Step 3 Examine the I2t rating data for the PICO II, 125V,
Nominal melting I2t is a measure of the energy required very fast-acting fuse. The part number 251001, 1 ampere
to melt the fusing element and is expressed as Ampere design is rated at 0.256 A2 Sec., which is the minimum
Squared Seconds (A2 Sec.). This nominal melting I2t, fuse rating that will accommodate the 0.2327 A2 Sec.
and the energy it represents (within a time duration of value calculated in Step 2. This 1 ampere fuse will also
8 milliseconds [0.008 second] or less and 1 millisecond accommodate the specified 0.75 ampere normal operating
[0.001 second]or less for thin film fuses), is a value that is current, when a 25% derating factor is applied to the 1
constant for each different fusing element. Because every ampere rating, as previously described.
fuse type and rating, as well as its corresponding part 7. PHYSICAL SIZE LIMITATIONS: Please refer to the
number, has a different fusing element, it is necessary to product dimensions presented in current Littelfuse product
determine the I2t for each. This I2t value is a parameter of data sheets for specific information.
the fuse itself and is controlled by the element material
and the configuration of the fuse element. In addition 8. AGENCY APPROVALS: For background information
to selecting fuses on the basis of Normal Operating about common standards, please consult the STANDARDS
Currents, Rerating, and Ambient Temperature as section of this guide or visit our Design Support web site
discussed earlier, it is also necessary to apply the I2t at www.littelfuse.com/design-support.html. For specific
design approach. This nominal melting I2t is not only a agency approval information for each Littelfuse product,
constant value for each fuse element design, but it is also please refer to the data sheets within this catalog and
independent of temperature and voltage. Most often, the information presented on www.littelfuse.com. As agency
nominal melting I2t method of fuse selection is applied to approvals and standards may change, please rely on the
those applications in which the fuse must sustain large information presented on www.littelfuse.com as current
current pulses of a short duration. These high-energy information.
currents are common in many applications and are critical
to the design analysis. 9. FUSE FEATURES: Please consult the specific product
features presented within this catalog and on our web
The following example should assist in providing a better site at www.littelfuse.com. For additional information and
understanding of the application of I2t. support contact your Littelfuse product representative.
EXAMPLE: Select a 125V, very fast-acting PICOII fuse that

2015 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 6 www.littelfuse.com

Fuseology Selection Guide

Fuse Selection Checklist (continued)

FIGURE 1 CHART 1
WAVESHAPES FORMULAS

A ip i=k
I2t = ip2 t
t
ib
10
B ip i = ip-kt
I2t = (1/3)(ip2 + ipib + ib2) t
Current (Amperes)

8 t

ip i = ip sin t
4 C
Normal Operating Current t I2t = (1/2) ip2 t
l2 t
2
Pulse
Energy
D ip
.001 .002 .003 .004 .005 .006 I2t = (1/3) ip2 t
Time (Seconds) t
Figure 1
10. FUSEHOLDER FEATURES AND RERATING: For
information about the range of Littelfuse fuseholders and ip OR
specific features and characteristics, please consult with E i = kt2 OR i = ip(1-kt) 2
a Littelfuse products representative or visit our web site t t I2t = (1/5) ip2 t
(www.littelfuse.com).

For 25C ambient temperatures, it is recommended that ip

fuseholders be operated at no more than 60% of the F i = ipekt)
nominal current rating established using the controlled test t1 I2t (1/2) ip2 t1
conditions specified by Underwriters Laboratories. The
primary objective of these UL test conditions is to specify
common test standards necessary for the continued CHART 2
control of manufactured items intended for protection PULSE CYCLE WITHSTAND CAPABILITY
against fire, etc. A copper dummy fuse is inserted in
100,000 Pulses Pulse I2t = 22% of Nominal Melting I2t
the fuseholder by Underwriters Laboratories, and then
the current is increased until a certain temperature rise 10,000 Pulses Pulse I2t = 29% of Nominal Melting I2t
occurs. The majority of the heat is produced by the contact 1,000 Pulses Pulse I2t = 38% of Nominal Melting I2t
resistance of the fuseholder clips. This value of current 100 Pulses Pulse I2t = 48% of Nominal Melting I2t
is considered to be the rated current of the fuseholder, 100000
expressed as 100% of rating. Some of the more common,
everyday applications may differ from these UL test
conditions as follows: fully enclosed fuseholders, high
contact resistance,air movement, transient spikes, and
changes in connecting cable size (diameter and length).
Even small variations from the controlled test conditions 10000
can greatly affect the ratings of the fuse-holder. For
Number of Pulses

this reason, it is recommended that fuseholders be

derated by 40% (operated at no more than 60% of the
nominal current rating established using the Underwriter
Laboratories test conditions, as previously stated). 1000

11. TESTING: The factors presented here should be

considered in selecting a fuse for a given application. The
next step is to verify the selection by requesting samples
for testing in the actual circuit. Before evaluating the
samples, make sure the fuse is properly mounted with 100
good electrical connections, using adequately sized wires 10% 100%
or traces. The testing should include life tests under normal Pulse I 2t / Average Melting I2t
conditions and overload tests Under fault conditions, to Note: Adequate time (10 seconds) must exist between pulse events
ensure that the fuse will operate properly in the circuit. to allow heat from the previous event to dissipate.

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 7 www.littelfuse.com

 Fuseology Selection Guide

PTC Characteristics and Terms

Overcurrent circuit protection can be accomplished Traditional Fuses Vs. PTCs

with the use of either a traditional fuse or PTC (positive
Fuses and PTCs are both overcurrent protection
temperature coefficient) device.
devices, though each offer their own unique operating
PTCs are typically used in a wide variety of telecom, characteristics and benefits. Understanding the differences
computer, consumer electronics, battery and medical between the two technologies should make the choice in
electronics product applications where overcurrent events selection easier, depending on the application.
are common and automatic resettability desired.
The most obvious difference is that PTCs are automatically
Littelfuse offers PTCs with the following general forms and resettable whereas traditional Fuses need to be replaced
features, and come in a variety of sizes and capacities: after they they are tripped. Whereas a fuse will completely
stop the flow of current (which may be desired in critical
Surface Mount Devices: applications) after most similar overcurrent event, PTCs
continue to enable the equiment to function, except in
A full range of compact footprints extreme cases.
Low hold current
Very fast trip time Because they reset automatically, many circuit designers
choose PTCs in instances where overcurrent events are
Low resistance
expected to occur often, and where maintaining low
Radial Leaded Series: warranty and service costs, constant system uptime, and/
or user transparency are at a premium. They are also often
Protection devices up to 600Vdc chosen in circuits that are difficult to access or in remote
A very high hold current locations, were fuse replacement would be difficult.
Low trip-to-hold current ratio
Low resistance. There are several other operating characteristics to be
considered that distinguish PTCs and fuses, and it is also
Battery Strap Devices:
best to test and verify device performance before use
A narrow low profile design within the end application.
A weldable band Nickel terminal
Low resistancefor extended battery run time Littelfuse PTC Characteristics
If your application requirements fall outside of our product Both Polymeric (Positive Temperature Coefficient) PTC
range, in certain instances we can offer customized and traditional Fuse devices react to heat generated by
solutions. Please contact Littelfuse for more information. the excessive current flow in a circuit. A fuse melts open,
interrupting the current flow whereas a PTC limits current
flow as it rises in temperature, changing from low to high
Littelfuse iDesignTM Online Fuse Design
resistance state. In both
and Selection Tool
cases this condition is
called "tripping." The
graph at right shows the
typical response of a
PTC to temperature.
Log resistance (ohms)

Littelfuse Polymer PTCs

To view a short online tutorial on using the Littelfuse
are made chiefly of high
iDesign tool, visit: http://vimeo.com/90118164
density polyethylene Trip Point

mixed with graphite.

During an overcurrent Temperature (C)
event, a Polymer PTC
will heat and expand, which in turn causes the conducting
particles to break contact and stop the current.

The general procedure for resetting the device after an

overload has occurred is to remove power and allow the
device to cool down.

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 8 www.littelfuse.com

Fuseology Selection Guide

PTC Characteristics and Terms (continued)

Leakage Current: When a PTC is in a "tripped state" it Time-Current Characteristic: Comparing the time-
protects the circuitry by limiting the current flow to a low current curves of PTCs to time-current curves of fuses
leakage level. Leakage current can range from less than show that the speed of response for a PTC is similar to the
a hundred milliamps (mA) at rated voltage up to a few time delay of a Littelfuse Slo-Blo fuse.
hundred milliamps (mA) at lower voltages. Fuses on the
other hand completely interrupt the current flow when Temperature Rerating: The useful upper limit for a
tripped, and this open circuit results in no leakage current PTC is generally 85C, while the maximum operating
when subjected to an overload current. temperature for fuses is 125C.

Ambient temperature effects are in addition to the normal

Interrupting Rating: PTCs are rated for a maximum rerating. PTCs hold and trip rating must be rerated when
short circuit current at rated voltage also known as applied at conditions other than room ambient. For
"breaking capacity" or Imax. This fault current level is the example, any rise in ambient temperature will decrease the
maximum current that the device can withstand safely, hold current rating as well as the trip current. A reduction in
keeping in mind that the PTC will not actually interrupt ambient temperature will increase the trip current as well
the current flow (see Leakage Current above). A typical as the hold current.
Littelfuse PTC short circuit rating is 40A; or for the battery The temperature rerating curves in the table below
strap PTCs, this value can reach 100A. Fuses do in fact compare PTCs to fuses and illustrate that more rerating is
interrupt the current flow in response to the overload required for a PTC at a given temperature.
and the range of interrupting ratings, vary from tens of
amperes (A) up to 10,000 (A) amperes at rated
voltage. Temperature Rerating Curves Comparing PTCs to Fuses
Chart Key
C
140
Curve A
Operating Voltage Rating: General use Thin-Film Fuses and 313
Littelfuse PTCs are not rated above 60V while Series (.010 to .150A) 120
A
fuses are rated up to 600V.
PERCENT OF RATING

Curve B B
FLAT-PAK, Nano2, 100
B
PICO, Blade Terminal,
Special Purpose and 80
Hold Current Rating: The hold (operating) other leaded and
cartridge fuses A
current rating for PTCs can be up to 14A, while 60
(except 313.010 .150A)
the maximum level for fuses can exceed 30A.
25C
Curve C 40
C
Resettable PTCs

Resistance: Reviewing product 20

specifications indicates that similarly rated -60C -40C -20C 0C 20C 40C 60C 80C 100C 120C
-76F -40F -4F 32F 68F 104F 140F 176F 212F 248F
PTCs have about twice (sometimes more) the AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
resistance of fuses.

Agency Approvals: Littelfuse PTCs

are Recognized under the Component Program of
Underwriters Laboratories to UL Standard 1434 for
Thermistors. The devices have also been certified under
the CSA Component Acceptance Program.

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 9 www.littelfuse.com

 Fuseology Selection Guide

PTC Product Applications

PTCs are typically used as circuit protection in applications The chart below is meant as a quick guide in narrowing to
where sensitive components are at constant risk of a Littelfuse PTC device that may be appropriate to certain
damage from overcurrent conditions. The ability of PTCs to end applications.
reset themselves after exposure to a fault current makes
them ideal within circuits that are not easily accessible to a For detailed application assistance please contact a
user or technician or where constant uptime is required. Littelfuse product specialist or visit our new reference
design center at www.littelfuse.com/designcenter.
Typical applications include port protection on personal
computers (USB, Firewire, keyboard/mouse, and serial For detailed product specifications, please consult the
ports), peripherals (hard drives, video cards, and hubs), cell Littelfuse PTC datasheets within this catalog or visit
phone, battery packs, industrial controls, lighting ballast www.littelfuse.com/PTCs.
and motor controls.

Surface Mount RADIAL LEADED Battery Strap

Series Name LoRho 0603L 0805L 1206L 1210L 1812L 2016L 2920L 250S USBR 16R 30R 60R 72R 250R 600R LR LR LT ST VL VT
Application
Ul60950 ,TIA-968-A, GR-1089 Reqs X X x
ITU-T Recoomendations X X x
CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) X X X
Telecom

Analog Line Card X X X

T1/E1/J1 And HDSL X X X
ISDN X X X
ADSL X X X
Cable Telephony X X X
PBX/KTS And Key Telephone System X X X
CPU x X X
USB x x x x x x X X
IEEE1284 Parallel Data Bus x x x X X
IEEE 802.3 x x x x
Computer

IEEE 1394 x x x
I/O Ports x x x x x X X
PC Card x x x x x x x X X
SCSI x x x x X X
Video Port x x x x X X
LCD Monitor x x x x x x X X
Set Top Box x x x x
Loudspeaker x
Electronics

Smart Card Reader x

Consumer

Mobile Phone x x x x x
Linear AC/DC Adapter x x x x x x x x x x
Portable Electronic Input Port x x x x x x x
Electromagnetic Loads, Motor x x x x x
Solenoid Protection x x x x x
Lithium Cell x x X X X X
Battery

x x X X X X
Battery Pack
electronic
Medical

Voltage / Current Input Terminal x x

NOTE: The application summary is for reference only. Determination of suitability for a specific application is the responsibility of the customer.

Littelfuse Electronics eCatalogs includes the latest standards, products, diagrams and videos in a new interactive
format. View the eBook on your mobile device, tablet or desktop for easy access to Littelfuse products, technologies
and technical resources. Quickly order free product samples, request more information and download datasheets all
within the new user-friendly design.

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 10 www.littelfuse.com

Fuseology Selection Guide

Typical PTC Circuit Protection Designs

The following are examples of typical circuits using assistance or visit www.littelfuse.com/designcenter
Littelfuse PTCs in combination with other Littelfuse circuit or www.littelfuse.com/PTCs for additional information.
protection devices to provide a comprehensive protection Be sure to to veryify specifications and test device
solution. Contact a Littelfuse application expert for design performance before use in the end application.

POWER OVER ETHERNET LI-ION BATTERY PACK

Switch/Hub Powered End Station

PTC
PTC
Battery Connector Battery Controller IC
Data Pair Data Pair

Battery +
Battery -

Cell Phone
Power Source Powered Control
Equipment Device
(PSE) (PD)
(3) V5.5MLA0402
(Multilayer
Varistor) Signal
Data Pair Data Pair Ground

Shield
Ground

USB 1.1 USB 2.0

PTC PTC

USB Port USB Controller USB Port USB Controller

V5.5MLA0603 V5.5MLA063
VBU VBUS
1206L150
1206L150
Outside World

D+
Outside World

D+
D- D-

(2) V0402MHS03 (2) PGB1010603

(PulseGuard
ESD Suppressor)
Signal Signal
Ground Ground

Shield Shield
Ground Ground

IEEE 1394 - FIREWIRE TIP/RING CIRCUIT - METALLIC

PTC
PTC
RJ11 Connector Tx/Rx Circuits
1394 Port 1394 Controller

V33MLA1206
VBU
1812L110/33 Tip
TPA+
Outside World

TPA-
Telco

TPB+ 600R Series SMD/leaded

TPB- 250R Series SIDACtor
Device
Ring

(4) PGB1010603 Signal

Signal Ground
(PulseGuard Ground
ESD Suppressor)
Shield
Ground

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 11 www.littelfuse.com

 Fuseology Selection Guide

Standards

Littelfuse is at your service to help solve your electrical

UL 275 AUTOMOTIVE GLASS TUBE FUSES (32 Volts)
protection problems. When contacting Littelfuse sales
engineers, please have all the requirements of your UL LISTED
applications available. Requests for quotes or assistance
in designing or selecting special types of circuit protection UL ampere ratings tests are conducted at 110%, 135%,
components for your particular applications are also and 200%. Interrupting rating tests are not required.
welcome. In the absence of special requirements,
Littelfuse reserves the right to make appropriate changes CSA Certification
in design, process, and manufacturing location without
prior notice. CSA Certification in Canada is equivalent to UL Listing in
the United States.
Fuse ratings and other performance criteria are evaluated
under laboratory conditions and accptance criteria, as The Component Acceptance Program of CSA is
defined in one or more of the various fuse standards. It is equivalent to the Recognition Program at UL.
important to understand these standards so that the fuse
can be properly applied to circuit protection applications. METI (Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
PS
METI APPROVAL
UL/CSA/ANCE (Mexico) 248-14 FUSES FOR E

SUPPLEMENTARY OVERCURRENT PROTECTION (600 Volts, METI approval in Japan is similar to UL Recognition in the
Maximum) (Previously UL 198G and CSA C22.2, No. 59)
United States.
UL LISTED
METI B has its own design standard and characteristics.
A UL Listed fuse meets all the requirements of the UL/
CSA/ANCE 248-14 Standard. Following are some of the INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL
requirements. UL ampere rating tests are conducted at COMMISSION (IEC)
100%, 135%, and 200% of rated current. The fuse must
carry 100% of its ampere rating and must stabilize at a Publication 60127, Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
temperature that does not exceed a 75C rise.
The IEC organization is different from UL and CSA, since
The fuse must open at 135% of rated current within one IEC only writes specifications and does not certify. UL
hour. It also must open at 200% of rated current within 2 and CSA write the specifications, and are responsible for
minutes for 0-30 ampere ratings and 4 minutes for 35-60 testing and certification.
ampere ratings.
Certification to IEC specifications are given by such
The interrupting rating of a UL Listed fuse is 10,000 organizations as SEMKO (Swedish Institute of Testing
amperes AC minimum at 125 volts. Fuses rated at 250 and Approvals of Electrical Equipment) , BSI (British
volts may be listed as interrupting 10,000 amperes at 125 Standards Institute) and VDE (German Standard Insitute)
volts and, at least, the minimum values shown below at V
D
, as well as UL and CSA.
E

250 volts.
IEC Publication 60127 defines three breaking capacity
Ampere Rating of Interrupting Rating levels (interrupting rating). Low breaking capacity fuses
Voltage Rating
Fuse In Amperes must pass a test of 35 amperes or ten times rated current,
0 to 1 35 250 VAC
whichever is greater, while enhanced breaking capacity
1.1 to 3.5 100 250 VAC
fuses must pass a test of 150 amperes and high breaking
3.6 to 10 200 250 VAC capacity fuses must pass a test of 1500 amperes.
0.1 to 15 750 250 VAC
15.1 to 30 1500 250 VAC 60127 Part 2
Recognized Under the Component Program of Sheet 1 Type F Quick Acting, High Breaking Capacity
Underwriters Laboratories Sheet 2 Type F Quick Acting, Low Breaking Capacity
Sheet 3 Type T Time Lag, Low Breaking Capacity
The Recognized Components Program of UL is different
from UL Listing. UL will test a fuse to a specification Sheet 4 Style Fuses 1/41 1/4
requested by the manufacturer. The test points can be Sheet 5 Type T Time Lag, High Breaking Capacity
different from the UL Listed requirements if the fuse Sheet 6 Type T Time Lag, Enhanced Breaking Capacity
has been designed for a specific application. Application
The letters F and T represent the time-current
approval is required by UL for fuses recognized under the
characteristic of the fast-acting and time delay fuses. One
Component Program.
of these letters will be marked on the end cap of the fuse.

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 12 www.littelfuse.com

Fuseology Selection Guide

Standards (continued)

UL/CSA/ANCE (Mexico) 248-14 vs. IEC 60127 Part 2 FUSE voltage rating. Parts rated at 32 & 63 volts must pass a
OPENING TIMES vs. METI/MITI test of 35 amperes or ten times rated current, whichever
is greater. Parts rated at 125 volts must pass a test of 50
Percent of UL & CSA IEC TYPE F IEC TYPE F IEC TYPE T IEC TYPE T METI/MITI amperes or ten times rated current, whichever is greater.
Rating STD 248-14 Sheet 1 (*) Sheet 2 (*) Sheet 3 (*) Sheet 5 (*) Parts rated at 250 volts are further defined as either low,
100 4Hr.Min. intermediate or high breaking. The low breaking capacity
fuses must pass a test of 100 amperes rated current, while
130 1Hr.Min.
intermediate breaking capacity fuses must pass a test of
60 Minutes
135
Max.
500 amperes and high breaking capacity fuses must pass a
60 Minutes 60 Minutes 60 Minutes 60 Minutes test of 1500 amperes.
150
Min. Min. Min. Min.
160 1Hr.Max.
MILITARY/FEDERAL STANDARDS
2 Minutes 2 Minutes
200
Max. Max.
MIL-PRF-15160 and MIL-PRF-23419
30 Minutes 30 Minutes 2 Minutes 30 Minutes
210 These specifications govern the construction and
Max. Max. Max. Max.
performance of fuses suitable primarily for military
(*) Note: The IEC Specification is written up to electronic applications.
10.0A. Any components above these ratings are
not recognized by the IEC (although the fuses MIL-PRF-19207
may have similar opening characteristics).
This specification governs the construction and
IEC also has opening time requirements at 275%, 400% performance of fuseholders suitable for military
and 1000%; however, the chart is used to show that applications.
fuses with the same ampere rating made to different
specifications are not interchangeable. According to the
DSSC Drawing #87108
IEC 60127 Standard, a one ampere-rated fuse can be
operated at one ampere. A one ampere-rated fuse made to This drawing governs the construction and performance
UL/CSA/ANCE 248-14 should not be operated at more than of .177 .570 (2AG size) cartridge fuses and axial lead
.75 ampere (25% derated See RERATING section). versions suitable for military applications. DSSC #87108
designation is included in the fuse end cap marking.
METI B does not differentiate between fast acting and time
delay characteristics.

Publication IEC 60127-4 (Universal Modular Fuse-Links

[UMF]) A robust web-based tool to help circuit designers
identify the optimal electronic fuses for their products.
This part of IEC 60127-4 covers both PCB through-hole
and surface mount fuses. This standard covers fuses rated
32, 63, 125, and 250 volts. This standard will be accepted
by UL/CSA making it the first global fuse standard. This
specification uses different fusing gates than IEC 60127-2;
the gates used here are 125%, 200%, and 1000%.

The fuses must not open in less than one hour at 125%
of rated current and open within two minutes at 200% of
rated current. The 1000% overload is used to determine
the fuse characteristic. The opening time for each rating is
listed below.
To use the Littelfuse iDesign tool, simply register to
Type FF : Less than 0.001 sec. create a free online account at the iDesign Login.
Type F : From 0.001 - 0.01 sec.
Type T : From 0.01 - 0.1 sec.
Type TT : From 0.1 - 1.00 sec.
These characteristics correlate to the terminology used in
IEC 60127-1.

Breaking capacity (interrupting rating) varies based on

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 13 www.littelfuse.com

 Fuseology Selection Guide

Standards (continued)

MILITARY/FEDERAL STANDARDS

FEDERAL SPECIFICATION W-F-1814

This specification governs the construction and
performance of fuses with high interrupting ratings that are
approved for federal applications. Fuses approved to these
specifications are on the Federal Qualified Products List.

Write to the following agencies for additional information

on standards, approvals, or copies of the specifications.

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)

333 Pfingsten Road
Northbrook, Illinois, USA 60062-2096
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
5060 Spectrum Way, Suite 100
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L4W 5N6
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
3, Rue de Varembe
1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Naval Publications and Military StandardsForm
Center (for Military and Federal Standards)
5801 Tabor Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA 19120
Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC)
3990 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio, USA 43218-3990
Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI)
1-3-1 Kasumigaseki
Chiyouda-ku, Tokyo 100-8901, Japan

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 14 www.littelfuse.com

Fuseology Selection Guide

PTC Selection Worksheet

1. Define the circuit operating parameters.

Normal operating current in amperes: ....................................................................................................
Normal operating voltage in volts: ....................................................................................................
Maximum interrupt current: ....................................................................................................
Ambient temperature: ....................................................................................................
Typical overload current: ....................................................................................................
Required opening time at specified overload: ....................................................................................................
Transient pulses expected: ....................................................................................................
Agency approvals: ....................................................................................................
Mounting type/form factor: ....................................................................................................
Typical resistance (in circuit): ....................................................................................................

2. Select the proper circuit protection component.

(Refer to Table on Page 3 and specifications with Data Sheets)

3. Determine the opening time at fault.

Consult the Time-Current (T-C) Curve of each PTC series to determine if the
selected part will operate within the constraints of your application.
If the device opens too soon, the application may experience nuisance
operation. If the device does not open soon enough, the overcurrent may
damage downstream components.
To determine the opening time for the chosen device, locate the overload
current on the X-axis of the appropriate T-C Curve and follow its line up to its
intersection with the curve. At this point read the time tested on the Y-axis.
This is the average opening time for that device.
If your overload current falls to the right of the curve the device will open.
If the overload current is to the left of the curve, the device will not operate.

4. Verify ambient operating parameters.

Ensure that the application voltage is less than or equal to the devices rated
voltage and that the operating temperature limits are within those specified
by the device.

5. Verify the devices dimensions.

Compare the maximum dimensions of the device to the space available in
the application. The dimension of each product is included within each data
sheets on the following pages.

6. Test the selected product in an actual application.

A robust web-based tool to help circuit designers

identify the optimal electronic fuses for their products.

Littelfuse iDesignTM Online Fuse Design and Selection Tool

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 15 www.littelfuse.com

 Fuseology Selection Guide

Fuse and PTC Products Selection Guide

FUSE PRODUCTS
Fuses provide protection by completely stopping the flow of energy to sensitive circuits. If current exceeds the fuses operating range, the metal
wire or strip melts safely within an enclosure. Littelfuse offers the most extensive range of fuses available, and for easy replacement of cartridge
fuses Littelfuse offers a wide selection of fuseholders including panel mount, in-line, and surface and thru-hole circuit board mount devices.

Agency
Interrupting

RoHS Compliant
Very Fast Acting
View Datasheet
Device Range 3 Approvals 3

Order Samples
Max. Voltage Rating at Operating

Halogen Free
Series (Operating

Fast Acting
Size2 Rating 3 Max. Voltage Temperature

Lead Free
Time Lag
Name1 Current Options
(Volts) Rating 3 Range
in Amps)

UMF
CSA
(Amps)

PSE
UR
UL
Surface Mount:
437 1206 0.25 - 8 125 / 63 / 32 50
438 0603 0.25 - 6 32 / 24 50
440 1206 1.75 - 8 32 50
Ceramic Chip -55C to +150C
441 0603 2-6 32 50
469 1206 1-8 24 / 32 24 - 63
501 1206 10, 12, 15, 20 32 150
466 1206 0.125 - 5 125 / 63 / 32 50
429 1206 7 24 35
468 1206 0.5 - 3 63 / 32 35 - 50
Thin Film -55C to +90C
467 0603 0.25 - 5 32 35 - 50
494 0603 0.25 - 5 32 35 - 50
435 0402 0.25 - 5 32 35
448 2410 0.062 - 15 125 / 65 35 - 50
449 2410 0.375 - 5 125 50
451 / 453 2410 0.062 - 15 125 / 65 35 - 50
452 / 454 2410 0.375 - 12 125 / 72 50
456 4012 20, 25, 30, 40 125 100 -55C to +125C
Nano Fuse
2

458 1206 1.0 - 10 75 / 63 50

443 4012 0.5 - 5 250 50
464 4818 0.5 - 6.3 250 100
465 4818 1 - 6.3 250 100
462 4118 0.500 - 5 350 100 -40C to +80C
485 4818 0.500 - 3.15 600 100 -55C to +125C
461 4012 0.5 - 2.0 600 60
Telelink Fuse

-55C to +125C
461E 4012 1.25 600 60
OMNI-BLOK
Fuseholder
154
* 0.062 - 10.0 125 35 - 50
-55C to +125C

154T
* 0.375 - 5 125 50
157
* 0.062 - 10 125 35 - 50
Fuse and Clip
Assemblies
157T
* 0.375 - 5 125 50
-55C to +125C

159
* 0.5 - 2 600 60
160
* 0.5 - 5 250 50
PICO SMF

Fuse
459
* 0.062 - 5 125 50 - 300
-55C to +125C

460
* 0.5 - 5 125 50

Flat Pak
202
* 0.062 - 5 250 50
-55C to +125C

203
* 0.25 - 5 250 50

EBF
446
* 2.0 - 10.0 350 100
-40C to +125C

447
*
(1) Detailed information about most product series listed here can be found on our web site.
2.0 - 10.0 350 100
TABLE CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE
(2) Size for these surface mount items refers to common industry length and width dimensions of the device surface area. Example: 0402 = .04 x .02
(3) In some cases for these categories the ratings, agency approvals and specifications vary by part number and are presented here as ranges representing the whole series.
Please refer to product data on www.littelfuse.com and in our data sheets for detailed information by part number.
* Please refer to data sheet for detailed specifications.

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 16 www.littelfuse.com

 Device Interrupting Agency Approvals 3
Range 3 Rating at

RoHS Compliant
Very Fast Acting
Max. Voltage Operating

View Datasheet

Medium Acting
Series

Order Samples
(Operating Rating 3 Americas Europe Asia
Max Voltage

Fast Acting
Temperature

Lead Free
Name1 Current

Time Lag
(Volts) Rating 3 Range

Semko
Options in

UMF
CSA

CQC
VDE
TUV

CCC
QPL

PSE
BSI
(Amps)

UR
Amps)

UL

CE

K
Radial Leaded / Socket:
262/268 0.002 - 5 125 10,000 -55C to +125C
Micro 269 0.002 - 5 125 10,000 -55C to +125C
272/278 0.002 - 5 125 10,000 -55C to +125C
Fuse / 273/279 0.002 - 5 125 10,000 -55C to +85C
TR3 Fuse 274 0.002 - 5 125 10,000 -55C to +85C
303 0.5 - 5 125 50 -55C to +70C
370 0.4 - 6.3 250 35 - 50
372 0.4 - 6.3 250 35 - 50
TR5 373 0.5 - 10 250 50
-40C to +85C
Fuse 374 0.5 - 10 250 50
382 1 - 10 250 100
383 1 - 10 300 50 - 100
369 1 - 6.3 300 50
385 0.35 - 1.5 125 50
391 0.125 - 4 65 50
392 0.8 - 6.3 250 25 - 63
395 0.05 - 6.3 125 100
-40C to +85C
396 0.05 - 6.3 125 100
TE5
397 0.35 - 1.5 125 50
398 0.125 - 4 65 50
399 0.125 - 4 65 50
400 0.5 - 6.3 250 130
804 0.8 - 6.3 250 150 -40C to +125C
808 2-5 250 100 -40C to +85C
TE7 807 0.8 - 6.3 300 100 -40C to +125C

Axial Leaded / Cartridge:

251 0.062 - 15 125 300DC / 50AC
253 0.062 - 15 125 300DC / 50AC
PICO
275 20 - 30 32 300DC / 50AC
Fuse / 263 0.062 - 5 250 50
-55C to +125C
PICO II 471 0.5 - 5 125 50
472 0.5 - 5 125 50
Fuse Axial
473 0.375 - 7 125 50
265/266/267 0.062 - 15 125 300DC / 50AC
874 0.1 - 10 250 50
875 0.1 - 10 250 50
3.6x10 mm -55C to +125C
876 0.125 - 5 250 35 - 50
877 2 - 6.3 250 35 - 63
208 0.125 - 10 350 100
209 0.25 - 7 350 100
4.5x14.5
mm 220 Special Fuse 0.3 - 7 250 / 300 / 350 35 - 100
-55C to +125C
2205 0.25 - 2.5 250 35
(2AG)
224/225 0.375 - 10 250 / 125 35 - 500
229/230 0.25 - 7 250 / 125 35 - 400
217 0.032 - 15 250 35 - 150
218 0.032 - 16 250 35 - 100
213 0.2 - 6.3 250 35 - 63
219XA 0.04 - 6.3 250 150
216 0.05 - 16 250 750 - 1500
215 0.125 - 20 250 400 / 1500
5x20 232 1 - 10 250 / 125 300 / 10,000
-55C to +125C
mm 235 0.1 - 7 250 / 125 35 - 10,000
233 1 - 10 125 10,000
234 1 - 10 250 100 - 200
239 0.08 - 7 250 / 125 35 - 10,000
285 0.125 - 20 250 400 - 1500
477 0.5 - 16 400DC / 500AC 100 - 1500
977 0.5 - 16 450DC / 500AC 200 / 100
312/318 0.062 - 35 250 / 32 35 - 300
313/315 0.01 - 30 250 / 125 / 32 35 - 300
314/324 0.375 - 40 250 35 - 1000
322 12 - 30 65 200 - 1000
332 1- 10 250 100 / 200
6.3x32 mm
325/326 0.01 - 30 250 100 - 600 -55C to +125C
(3AG/3AB)
505 10 - 30 450 / 500 20,000 - 50,000
506 15 - 20 600DC 10,000
1000VAC / DC
508 High Voltage 0.315 - 1 1000 10,000
Fuse
 Fuseology Selection Guide

Fuse and PTC Products Selection Guide (continued)

Ptc Products
PTCs (positive temperature coefficient) increase resistance as temperature increases. They are designed to prevent unsafe levels of current
while allowing constant safe current levels, and their resistance will reset automatically when the current and temperature returns to a
safe level. PTCs are typically used in applications where automatic reset is desired.
View Datasheet

Agency Approvals
Order Samples

Operating

Halogen Free
Max Voltage Max Fault
Series Name 1
Size2
Hold Current (IHOLD) Temperature

Lead Free
(VMAX) current (IMAX)
Range

RoHS
TUV
cUR

UR
Surface Mount:
0402 0.1 - 0.5A
0603 0.5 - 2.0A
LoRho PTC 0805 0.75 - 3.0A
6 / 12 V 50 A
(Low Resistance) 1206 0.75 - 4.5A
1812 1.9 - 3.7A
2920 7.0A
0603
0603L 0.04 - 0.5A 6 - 15 V 40 A
(1608)
0805
0805L 0.10 - 1.10 A 6 - 15 V 100 / 40 A
(2012)
1206
1206L 0.10 - 2.0A 6 - 30 V 100 A
(3216)
1210 -40C to 85C
1210L 0.05 - 2.0A 6 - 30 V 10 / 100 A
(3225)
1812
1812L 0.1 - 3.0A 6 - 60 V 10 / 20 / 100 A
(4532)
2016
2016L 0.30 - 2.00 A 6 - 60 V 20 / 40 A
(5041)
2920
2920L 0.30 - 3.00 A 6 - 60 V 10 / 40 A
(7351)

250S see data sheet 0.13 A 60 V 3A

Radial Leaded:
USBR 0.75 - 2.50 A 6 / 16 V 40 A

16R 2.50 - 14.00 A 16 V 100 A

30R 0.90 - 9.00 A 30 V 40 A

60R see data sheet 0.10 - 3.75 A 60 V 40 A -40C to 85C

72R 0.20 - 3.75 A 72 V 40 A

250R 0.08 - 0.18 A 250 V 3 / 10 A

600R 0.15 - 0.16 A 600 V 3A

Battery Strap:
SL
see data sheet 1.9 - 3.7 A 6V 50 A -40C to 85C
(Low Resistance)

(1) Detailed information about most product series listed here can be found on our web site.
(2) Size for these surface mount items refers to common industry length and width dimensions of the device surface area. Example: 0402 = .04 x .02

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 18 www.littelfuse.com

Fuseology Selection Guide

Packaging and Part Numbering

Littelfuse Fuse Products Traditional Part Numbering System

0XXX XXXX X X XXXXXX

Options Codes *
Packaging Type * RT1 Reel and Tape, 2.062in (52.4mm) lead spacing
Product Series Code A Ammo packed RT2 Reel and Tape, 2.50 in (63.5mm) lead spacing
Packaging Quantity Code * RT3 Reel and Tape, 2.874 in (73mm) lead spacing
Example: B Bubble packed
A/X 1 H 100 D 1500 N 5000 C Chip packed E Pigtail lead type fuse
437 series fuse is 0437 V 5 F 200 P 2000 K 10000 R Reeled ID Indicating fuse
T 10 G 250 E 2500 J 12000 X Filler L RoHS compliant
Ampere Rating Code S 20 U 500 W 3000 Z Misc. P Lead-free
Decimal is to far right for whole number L 50 M 1000 Y 4000
amp ratings, to far left for ratings less than
one, and within center for fractional amp ratings. * Not all options and codes listed here are available for all products.
For information about the specific options available for any Littelfuse product,
Examples: please refer to the packaging details information within each product data sheet
10A fuse is 010. or contact your Littelfuse products representative.
1/4A or 0.25A fuse is .250 Tape and Reel packaging per EIA-296:
1 1/2A or 1.5A fuse is 01.5 Tape width is defined as the width of the tape and reeled fuse (x) as measured from inside tape to inside tape.
1 1/4A or 1.25A fuse is 1.25 Pitch is defined as the space between two tape and reeled fuses (y) as measured from lead to lead.

Refer to the Electrical Characteristics tables

presented in each product data sheet
for specific amp rating codes
x

Littelfuse Wickmann Products Part Numbering System

1.-3. 4. 5.-7. 8. 9. 10. Stelle

digit Explanation
3xx X XXX X X X
0 4 3 Packaging

TR3 0 Tape, Ammopack 1.000 pcs. TR5
303 Tape, Ammopack
Tape, Ammopack
TR5 Tap, Rolle/ Reel

370 1 bulk, 1.000 pcs. TR5
2 bulk, 300 pcs., TR3 short leads

372 3 bulk, 200 pcs., TR3 long leads / TR

382 4 bulk 1.400 pcs., only TE5 / TCP / MP / IP
385 5 tape in bulk 100 pcs., only Picofuse 275
391 6 bulk 2.500 pcs., only Picofuse 275
950 Y customized
373
374 Variant
0 Standard, long leads 18,8 mm

TE5 1 long leads 18,8 mm, TR3
392 2
395 4 short leads 4,3 mm
396 5 short leads 3,3 / 3,5 mm (special model)

TCP Version
397 0 Standard
1 varying production
MP S PIP Surface Mount (TR5 blister tape 2x500 pcs.)
398
Rated Current Specification
IP 3-digit
399 062 = 62mA example 4.-7. digit
100 = 100mA / 1A / 10A
Pico 125 = 125A 0062 = 62mA
275 0100 = 100mA
0 < 1A 1100 = 1A
1 1 - < 10A 2100 = 10A
2 10 - < 100A 3125 = 125A
3 100A

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 19 www.littelfuse.com

 Fuseology Selection Guide

Legal Disclaimers

Liability Disclaimer

Littelfuse, Inc. its affiliates, agents, and employees, Specifications, descriptions and data contained in this
and all persons acting on its or their behalf (collectively, document are believed to be accurate. However, users
Littelfuse), disclaim any and all liability for any errors, should independently evaluate each product for the
inaccuracies or incompleteness contained here or in any particular application. Littelfuse reserves the right to
other disclosure relating to any product. Littelfuse disclaims change any information contained herein without notice
any and all liability arising out of the use or application and may, at its sole discretion, change the design,
of any product described herein or of any information manufacture or construction of any product. Visit
provided herein to the maximum extent permitted by law. www.littelfuse.com for the most up-to-date information.
The product specifications do not expand or otherwise Littelfuses only obligations for any of its products are
modify Littelfuse terms and conditions of purchase, specified in its Standard Terms and Conditions and
including but not limited to the warranty expressed therein, Littelfuse shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential
which apply to these products. or incidental damages from any sale or use of any of its
products.

Right to Make Changes

Littelfuse reserves the right to make any and all changes to

the products described herein without notice.

Not Intended for Use in Life Support or Life Saving

Applications

The products shown herein are not designed for use

in life sustaining or life saving applications unless
otherwise expressly indicated. Customers using or selling
Littelfuse products not expressly indicated for use in such
applications do so entirely at their own risk and agree
to fully indemnify Littelfuse for any damages arising or
resulting from such use or sale. Please contact authorized
Littelfuse personnel to obtain terms and conditions
regarding products designed for such applications.

Intellectual Property

No license, express or implied, by estoppel or otherwise,

to any intellectual property rights is granted by this
document or by any conduct of Littelfuse. Product
names and markings noted herein may be registered
trademarks of their respective owners. Littelfuse makes
no representations or warranties of non-infringement or
misappropriation of any third party intellectual property
rights unless specifically provided for herein.

2014 Littelfuse Fuseology Selection Guide 20 www.littelfuse.com

littelfuse.com
[email protected]

EC125Nv0115