New Industry Products

Bourns Announces First ECL Designed to Tolerate AC Mains Power Contact Without Damage

February 01, 2011 by Jeff Shepard

Bourns, Inc. announced its latest series of TBU® (Transient Blocking Unit) circuit protection devices designed for high speed protection of communications ports. The new devices are the industry’s first electronic current limiters (ECLs) designed to tolerate ac mains power contact without circuit damage. Designated the Bourns TBU DT-Series, the new circuit protection device family provides superior protection against faults caused by short circuits, ac power cross, induction and lightning surges. The TBU DT-Series are very fast-reacting protectors that do not alter the signal performance of high speed communication ports unlike high capacitance protectors. The new Bourns TBU devices are an optimal solution for Ethernet ports used in outdoor applications such as security systems, PV panels and service kiosks.

"The TBU DT-Series represents a whole new level of circuit protection for sensitive Ethernet ports," said Ian Doyle, product line manager of semiconductor products at Bourns, Inc. "Ethernet interfaces today are used almost everywhere and are exposed to ever more serious threats. Superior protection without compromising performance is now possible for high speed Ethernet ports thanks to the fast-acting capabilities of these devices."

The new devices provide an integrated solution that minimizes design and manufacturing costs for design engineers that translates into faster time-to-market. In addition, they enable a lower component count that meets OEM demands for smaller circuit boards in space-constrained designs. Protecting against a wide range of hazardous threats, the Bourns TBU DT-Series also helps customers eliminate expensive maintenance, repair and system downtime costs.

The Bourns TBU DT-Series features eight models and offers continuous ac voltage ratings up to 425 Vrms and nominal trigger currents ranging from 150 to 750mA. The new device family comes in a surface mount DFN package and is lead free and RoHS compliant. Product samples are available now through Bourns’ distribution partners. As pricing examples, Bourns TBU-DT-065 and TBU-DT-085-XXX-WH are priced at $.69 each in 15K quantities.