Littelfuse introduces the first sealed surface mount fuse designed for intrinsic safety protection

     Littelfuse announced the introduction of the first sealed surface-mount fuse designed specifically for the intrinsic safety of equipment intended for use in or near hazardous sites and explosive environments and certified to the UL 913 standard. Under overcurrent and short circuit conditions, the PICO 304 series surface-mount fuse body with a 1 mm seal will minimize the heat generated and contain sparks or flash inside the fuse assembly from exposure to potentially explosive gases or dust in the environment. Because of this type of packaging, there is no need to potting or coating the printed circuit board or components, saving production time and costs, and thus reducing the cost of the final product.

     With a rating of 277V AC/DC and a breaking capacity of 1500A, the PICO 304 series is suitable for barrier circuits and other separating intrinsically safe circuits from non-intrinsically safe circuits. With current ratings ranging from 50mA to 750mA, the series is suitable for limiting fault currents in circuits, helping to reduce the required power rating and the size of downstream components, wiring and board wiring.

     Typical applications of the PICO 304 series include measuring or processing electronic and electrical equipment, motor controllers, communication handheld devices/two-way radios and associated battery chargers, process control and automation equipment, sensors, lighting, and flow/gas meters for the oil, gas, mining, chemical, pharmaceutical, catering and other processing industries.

     "The PICO 304 series fuse is the first surface-mount fuse with a sealed body and a rated voltage of at least 250V." Says Tim Patel, global strategic Marketing Manager at Littelfuse. "This small fuse allows designers of intrinsically safe devices to save board space while still meeting certification requirements for intrinsically safe protection without the need for expensive and time-consuming sealing or coating processes."