Resettable TCO protects higher-capacity Li-ion batteries

Touting a lightweight and smaller size, Bourns Inc. has released a new series of miniature resettable thermal cutoff (TCO) devices, claiming breakthrough current capacity in a miniature package. Building on its Model AA series, the new Model AC parts offer improved features to protect higher-capacity lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cells.

Helping battery pack designers save design space and weight, the AC series is 0.12 mm thinner and 16% lighter than the existing Model AA devices. The smaller size coupled with higher capacity also help designers extend Li-ion cell usage beyond the traditional laptop, tablet, and smartphone applications to power tools, electric vehicles, e-bikes, and grid storage applications, said Bourns.

The previous Model AA series offered four trip temperature options from 72°C to 85°C, which the Model AC extends with a fifth option of 90°C. The new option can carry up to 20 A at 60°C. This makes it the highest current-carrying TCO device that Bourns offers. The devices also offer extremely low impedance/resistance (2 mΩ max.). The series is RoHS-compliant and halogen-free.

Pricing for the Model AC72ABD is $0.73 each in quantities of 3,000. For more product information, please see https://bit.ly/1VjH7ai .