Littelfuse Introduces First Sealed Surface Mount Fuse Designed for Intrinsically Safe Protection

SR05 SOT143 package 5V ESD electrostatic protection

Littelfuse, Inc., a global leader in circuit protection, has introduced a groundbreaking innovation: the first sealed surface mount fuse designed specifically for intrinsic safety in hazardous and explosive environments. This new product has successfully passed the UL913 certification, ensuring compliance with the highest safety standards.

The PICO® 304 Series Surface Mount Fuse features a 1 mm thick seal that significantly reduces heat generation and prevents sparks or arc flashes from escaping during overcurrent or short-circuit events. This design ensures that potentially explosive gases or dust are not exposed to internal components, making it ideal for use in high-risk areas. By eliminating the need for potting or coating of PCBs and components, this fuse helps reduce production time and costs, ultimately lowering the overall cost of the end product.

PICO® 304 Series Products

The PICO® 304 series is rated at 277VAC/DC with a breaking capacity of up to 1500A, making it suitable for both intrinsically safe and non-intrinsically safe circuits. The current ratings range from 50mA to 750mA, allowing it to effectively limit fault currents and reduce the power requirements and physical size of downstream components, wiring, and board traces.

This series finds application in a wide variety of industries, including electrical and electronic equipment, motor controllers, communication devices, battery chargers, process control systems, sensors, lighting, and specialized equipment used in oil, gas, mining, chemical, pharmaceutical, and food processing sectors.

“The PICO® 304 Series fuses represent a major advancement in surface mount technology for hazardous environments,” said Tim Patel, Global Strategic Marketing Manager at Littelfuse. “This small, sealed fuse allows designers to save valuable board space while still meeting intrinsic safety requirements without the need for costly and time-consuming sealing or coating processes.”

Key Advantages of the PICO® 304 Series:

• Sealed package design meets safety requirements for hazardous areas, preventing sparks from coming into contact with explosive gases or dust. Eliminates the need for potting or sealing the board, saving time and reducing total product costs.
• Complies with UL913, IECEx, and ATEX standards, enhancing the safety of equipment used in hazardous locations and improving workplace safety for employees.
• Offers a high breaking capacity of up to 1500A and current ratings from 50mA to 750mA, making it suitable for a broad range of applications.

Availability

The PICO® 304 Series fuses are available in a surface mount 24 mm tape and reel packaging format, with minimum order quantities of 100 or 800 units. Free samples can be obtained through authorized Littelfuse dealers worldwide. For a full list of distributors, visit Littelfuse.com.

More Information

For detailed technical specifications and product information, visit the PICO® 304 Series Product Page. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Tim Patel, Global Strategic Marketing Manager, directly via email or phone.