SMD PTC - 6V 500mA (strip of 10)

There are more and more hobbyists taking advantage of surface mount technology these days. With affordable tools like hot air and hotplate reflow ovens, electronics enthusiasts are shrinking their projects down to new levels of portability. Unfortunately, It's not always easy to get your hands on small amounts of SMD parts so here's a strip of PTCs.

PTCs are a form of overcurrent protection device (like a fuse) but unlike a fuse, they are capable of "resetting themselves." When the threshold current is reached, the device begins to heat up which increases its resistance, effectively choking the current back down to a level that won't damage more valuable components. When the current is removed, the device cools off and is ready to go again!

This is a strip of 10 surface-mount PTC devices, which should be enough for general prototyping applications.

SMD PTC - 6V 500mA (strip of 10) Product Help and Resources

Core Skill: Soldering

This skill defines how difficult the soldering is on a particular product. It might be a couple simple solder joints, or require special reflow tools.

3 Soldering

Skill Level: Competent - You will encounter surface mount components and basic SMD soldering techniques are required.
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Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping

If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.

3 Electrical Prototyping

Skill Level: Competent - You will be required to reference a datasheet or schematic to know how to use a component. Your knowledge of a datasheet will only require basic features like power requirements, pinouts, or communications type. Also, you may need a power supply that?s greater than 12V or more than 1A worth of current.
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Comments

Looking for answers to technical questions?

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  • PTC (positive temperature coefficient) devices are often used in products to meet regulatory safety requirements. They are not nearly as fast as other protection methods, so for prototyping a fast fuse or active current limit circuit will do a better job of protecting your downstream circuitry.

    This "F" part is rated at 1A trip current (it won't trip until it sees at least 1A and resets when the current drops below 500 mA). And at 1A it takes over 10 seconds to trip.

    • trophosphere / about 12 years ago / 1

      Did you mean a tenth of a second and not 10 seconds?

      • Steamcastle / about 12 years ago / 1

        the "F" is 1A trip current but 0.5A hold current, and yes it will take 10s at 1A but closer to 0.2s at 2-3A. so maybe not the fasted but you could us them on the line from the battery, and it will cut out before the battery started to heat up/ overheat.

  • Member #470590 / about 11 years ago / 1

    What size are these? 0603, 1206?

    • Kamiquasi / about 11 years ago / 2

      1206 ( see datasheet - though it's even in the part name :) )

  • Jake0313 / about 11 years ago / 1

    Is this the same component that is used on the RedBoard?

  • JohnnyD / about 12 years ago / 1

    Any example circuit on how these might be used?

    • Chiel / about 11 years ago / 1

      (probably late but in case others ask) To use a fuse (PTC and normal) is simple. Just place the fuse between the supply and the circuit your protecting. if too much current goes trough the fuse (due to a short-circuit for example) it trips and then disconnects the circuit to protect it. just make sure all current from the supply goes trough the fuse and you can't do anything wrong. if you want even more protection you can place a rectifying diode before the fuse to prevent reverse polarity.

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