Bourns launches a new range of polymer temperature protectors

     Bourns has introduced a new range of polymer temperature Protectors (P-TCO) that feature the protection of USB-C cable lines from damaging and potentially dangerous thermal runaway events. Bourns' new P-TCO series offers overtemperature protection solutions optimized for USB C-C, C-B and C-A connector configurations for USB 3.2, 3.1, 3.0 and 2.0 and other types of data/charging cables.

     The USB Type-C connector is capable of delivering up to 100W of power, with 24 pins and a smaller form factor than previous USB connector designs. While the significant advantages are the enhanced power characteristics and capabilities, there are also disadvantages, such as the increased power and extremely tight pin spacing, which combine to increase the potential safety risks of thermal runaway, such as the possibility of triggering due to dust or liquid entering the connector and causing a short circuit. Bourns' new P-TCO series offers a combination of compact and ultra-low resistance thermal protection against the potentially dangerous overheating events described above.

     The Bourns P-TCO series is available in a surface mount package for automatic assembly and low profile for wrap molding. The new P-TCO series fully meets small size specifications, including the P-TCO-U series of the 1210 and the ultra-compact P-TCO-N series of the 1206. Bourns' P-TCO series offers a maximum operating voltage rating of 12V and a maximum operating current rating of 50A.

     Each series is available in three different models to provide protection for various temperature current combinations. The ultra-low resistance materials used in the P-TCO series enable the P-TCO-U and P-TCO-N series to achieve initial resistance values as low as 2 milliohm and post-trip resistance values as low as 14 milliohm, allowing the components to achieve current carrying capabilities up to 4.5 A.