Littelfuse’s app note about using Polymeric positive temperature coefficient (PPTC) device as protection when fluorescent tube lighting no longer operate normally. Link here (PDF) The electronic ballasts used in fluorescent lighting systems may experience high failure rates, due to the fact that the ballast manufacturer may not have considered all failure mechanisms and provided appropriate […]
Tag Archives: Littelfuse
App note: Varistors – connection and terminology
Littelfuse cheat sheet on all varistors related. Link here (PDF) Transient suppressors can be exposed to high currents for short durations in the nanoseconds to millisecond time frame. Littelfuse Varistors are connected in parallel to the load, and any voltage drop in the leads to the varistor will reduce its effectiveness. Best results are obtained […]
App note: ESD protection audio input and output lines
Audio port protection discussed in this app note from Littlefuse. Link here (PDF) Externally generated ESD pulses are introduced through the Audio jacks (headphone, microphone, RCA-type plugs, etc.) and travel through the connector onto the system board. Once on the board, they will propagate down the signal lines toward the integrated circuits(IC). Most ICs are […]
App note: Coordinated circuit protection options for LED lighting
App note from Littelfuse on protecting LED lights from overloaded circuits, overvoltage and electrical shorts assuring safety on customers from these hazards. Link here (PDF) LED technology has advanced rapidly, with improved chip designs and materials facilitating development of brighter and longer-lasting light sources that can be used in a wide spectrum of applications. A […]
App note: Suppression of transients in an automotive environment
App note from Littelfuse about automotive electrical noises and where they came from and what to do with them in order to prevent it from going to your circuit. Link here (PDF) As the control circuitry in the automobile continues to develop, there is a greater need to consider the capability of new technology in […]
App note: An introduction to transient voltage suppression devices
App note from Littelfuse introduces you to their TVS options specifically fit to your circuit protection needs. Link here (PDF) Transient Voltage Suppression (TVS) protection devices such as shielded cables, crowbars, filters and clamping devices have been widely used for a number of years to solve EMI problems. These TVS devices can be used to […]
App note: Control solution using logic, analog switches, and discrete semiconductor devices for reversing a one-phase motor
App note from Littelfuse on solution to control split-phase motor using logic devices and triacs. Link here (PDF) In the huge variety of the AC motors, one-phase motors are an excellent option when only the single-phase power is available to supply electrical energy which motors require to operate. One of the most common single-phase motors […]
App note: Circuit protection solution for lithium cells
App note from Littelfuse on PolySwitch PPTC for lithium cells protection. Link here (PDF) Primary lithium cells (i.e., AA and 2/3A) and rechargeable lithium cells (i.e., 18650, 17500, and prismatic) are used in many portable electronics applications, such as laptop or notebook computers. Their popularity is based on the fact that they offer high energy […]
App note: Automobile harness protection
Polyswitch fuse use in automobile, app note from Littelfuse. Link here (PDF) A vehicle’s ideal harness scheme has a hierarchal, tree-like structure with main power “trunks” dividing into smaller “branches,” with overcurrent protection at each node. This architecture allows the use of smaller, space-saving wires that can reduce weight and cost. It also optimizes system […]
App note: Automatic AC line voltage selector
Implementation of automatic AC line voltage selector, App note from Littelfuse. Link here (PDF) In some cases, appliances and equipment are able to operate when supplies by two different levels of AC line voltage to their main terminals (10V or 240V). This is why, it is very common that appliances and equipment have mechanical selectors […]
App note: Designing reliable drones using proper circuit protection
Littelfuse’s application note on drone circuitry protection, offering guard against overcharging its batteries, I/O and ESD protection. Link here (PDF) No doubt “pilot losing control” is behind many drone incidents and crashes. But what’s behind that “loss of control?” After all, even small recreational drones depend on a host of subsystems – GPS, receiver antennae, […]
App note: Magnetic sensors’ and reed switches’ capacitive Loads
An application note from Littelfuse on peak current considerations when reed switches and magnetic sensors are handling capacitive loads. Link here (PDF) When there is significant capacitance in a reed sensor, reed relay or reed switch circuit, the peak current and energy switched by the reed contacts should be considered. However, if the capacitance is […]
App note: Flow sensing in tankless water heaters
Contactless reed switches from Littelfuse provides flow and water presence monitoring. Link here (PDF) Reed switches and sensors are highly effective solutions for flow sensing applications that can be used for detecting the presence of fluid flow in a system or even measure the rate of fluid flow. Tankless water heaters are becoming a widely […]
App note: Circuit protection technology application matrix application guide
Here’s an application matrix of Littelfuse’s circuit protections, Link here (PDF)
App note: Enhancing workplace safety in hazardous locations with PICO® 259-UL913 intrinsically safe fuse
Application note from Littelfuse about their (IS) intrinsically safe fuse which doesn’t produce sufficient heat that could trigger sparks which are dangerous in an explosive environment. Link here (PDF) Gases, petroleum products, and airborne dusts tend, by their very nature, to be explosive if sources of sparks or excess heat are present. Over the years, […]
App note: Controlling LED lighting using triacs and quadracs
Solid State device and circuits for controlling LEDs lighting, replacing conventional incandescent lamps, an App note from Littlefuse. Link here (PDF) Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are fast becoming the most popular lighting option. Industry forecasts anticipate the market will continue to expand at an annual rate of 20% from 2011 to 2016, with the greatest […]
App note: Automotive circuit protection using Littelfuse automotive TVS diodes
An interesting app note from Littelfuse about automotive circuit protection but also discusses about where transients came from in an automotive setup. Link here (PDF) The designers of automotive electronics face many technical challenges during the system design process, including designing methods of protection against a variety of electrical hazards. The three major sources of […]
App note: Combining GDTs and MOVs for surge protection of AC power lines
Another circuit protection from power surges/spikes application note from Littelfuse. Link here (PDF) AC power line disturbances are the cause of many equipment failures. The damage can be as elusive as occasional data crashes or as dramatic as the destruction of a power supply, computer terminal, or television set. Power line disturbances go by many […]
App note: Circuit protection for Lithium-Ion and lithium polymer rechargeable battery applications
Adding secondary circuit protection to ensure safety when using Lithium-Ion and Lithium polymer batteries discussed in this app note from Littelfuse. Link here (PDF) The introduction of portable devices with advanced features and the demand for longer run times and has resulted in innovations in the battery technologies used for portable applications. The latest generation […]
App note: Transient suppression devices and principles
App note from Littlefuse on how do transient suppression devices protect electronic circuits. Link here (PDF) There are two major categories of transient suppressors: a) those that attenuate transients, thus preventing their propagation into the sensitive circuit; and b) those that divert transients away from sensitive loads and so limit the residual voltages. Attenuating a […]