Littelfuse, Inc., has introduced the PolySwitch® setP™ Series temperature indicator, which protects users of USB Type‑C and USB Power Delivery charging cables from dangerous overheating. The announcement was made in the Littelfuse booth (Hall 4, Booth ED45) at Electronica India, the International 
Source: Littelfuse, Inc.Trade Fair for Electronic Components, Systems and Applications, held September 26–28, 2018, at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) in Bengaluru (Bangalore), India.
When dust, dirt or other debris become trapped in a USB Type-C cable connector, it creates a resistive fault from the power line to ground, which can cause a dangerous temperature rise without increasing the current. The power-independent setP senses the temperature increase, alerting the charging port to shut down the power flow.
Once the user disconnects the cable and removes the debris, the cable can resume normal operation. The compact 0805 (mils) footprint of the setP temperature indicator makes it at least 50% smaller than other solutions that require placing a device on the power line. Placing a protective device on the power line also contributes to power loss. The same setP device can be used to protect cables designed for 15 W, 60 W or 100 W operation.
Typical applications for the setP Series temperature indicator include:
- USB Type-C connectors for charging cables in mobile and wearable devices
- A power supply with an attached USB-C cable
The setP Series temperature indicator offers these key benefits:
- The compact size and sensitivity to temperature simplifies cable surface temperature regulation.
- The rigid structure is compatible with conventional assembly and molding operations used in cable and connector manufacturing.
- Independence of USB power delivery allows for a smaller footprint and greater energy efficiency and simplifies part selection.
- No disruption of the communication channel makes the setP an easy drop-in solution for existing designs.
Availability
The setP Series temperature indicator, SETP0805-100-SE, is available as a surface-mount device in tape and reel packaging in packs of 4,000 with a minimum order quantity of 20,000 pieces. Sample requests may be placed through authorized Littelfuse distributors worldwide. For a listing of Littelfuse distributors, please visit Littelfuse.com.
