Industrial Electronics

Prevent overheating damage to USB type-C connectors

12 June 2019

Littelfuse Inc., a manufacturer of circuit protection, power control and sensing solutions, has announced an expanded PolySwitch SetP series of digital temperature indicators, designed to protect USB Type‑C and USB power delivery charging cables from dangerous overheating. The newest addition to the product family, the SETP0805-100-CC, is optimized for use in cables equipped with USB Type-C connectors at both ends.Source: LittelfuseSource: Littelfuse

Typical applications for SETP0805-100-CC temperature indicators include consumer electronics, primarily for mobile and wearable devices equipped with:

  • USB Type-C cables (with a Type-C plug on each end)
  • USB Type-C chargers (such as cables fixed or captive to a charger “brick” for laptops)

When dust, dirt or other debris becomes trapped in a USB Type-C cable connector or the connector has deformed pins, it creates a resistive fault from the power line to ground, which can cause a dangerous temperature rise without increasing the current. When the temperature reaches the SetP’s indicating temperature (100° C), the SetP switches from low resistance to high resistance, shutting down the flow of power. Once the user disconnects the cable and removes the debris, the cable can resume normal operation. Watch how SetP works.

The compact 0805 (mils) footprint of SetP temperature indicators makes them at least 50% smaller than other solutions that require placing a device on the power line. The SetP devices can be used to protect cables designed for 100 W of power or more.

The SetP temperature indicators offer these key benefits.

  • Their compact size and sensitivity to temperature keeps the cable surface temperatures safe for users.
  • The rigid structure is compatible with conventional assembly and molding operations used in cable and connector manufacturing.
  • Being independent of power simplifies part selection and allows protecting systems that operate at 100 W of power or more.
  • No disruption of the communication channel makes the SetP an easy drop-in solution for reliable over temperature protection for existing designs.

Both the original (single-end) SetP series digital temperature indicator and the latest version are available as surface mount devices 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.

Additional information is available on the SetP series digital temperature indicator product page.

To contact the author of this article, email GlobalSpecEditors@globalspec.com


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