PTC thermistors as
inrush current limiters
Leaded disks, coated, C1412, C1451 and C75*
Series/Type: B594**C1130B070 /
B5975*C01**A070
Date: August 2012
© EPCOS AG 2012. Reproduction, publication and dissemination of this publication, enclosures hereto and the
information contained therein without EPCOS' prior express consent is prohibited.
Applications
Inrush current limiter (charging resistor) for
smoothing and DC link capacitors
To replace high-power fixed resistors for
capacitor charging
Features
Self-protecting in case of malfunction of
short-circuit relay or internal short circuit of
capacitor
Inrush current limiters are not damaged
when directly connected to Vmax even without
additional current limitation
Marking: Type, manufacturer's logo,
reference temperature in °C and date code
YYWW
VDE approval for selected types
(licence number 104843 E)
RoHS-compatible
Delivery mode
Cardboard strips
Dimensional drawing
Dimensions in mm
Type wmax hmax thmax d
C1412 15.0 19.0 7.5 0.8
C1451 15.0 19.0 7.5 0.8
C750 12.5 16.5 5.0 0.6
C751 12.5 16.5 7.0 0.6
C755 12.5 16.5 7.0 0.6
General technical data
Operating cycles at Vmax (charging of capacitor) Nc> 50000 cycles
Switching cycles at Vmax (failure mode) Nf> 100 cycles
Operating temperature range (V = 0) Top 40/+125 °C
Operating temperature range (V = Vmax) Top 20/+85 °C
Electrical specifications and ordering codes
Type Vmax
V AC
Vlink,max
V DC
RR
RR
%
Tref
(typ.)
°C
Cth
J/K
τth
s
Approvals Ordering code
C1412 440 620 120 ±25 130 2.1 100 B59412C1130B070
C1451 440 620 56 ±25 130 2.1 100 B59451C1130B070
C750 260 360 25 ±25 115 1.0 100 X B59750C0120A070
C751 260 360 50 ±25 115 1.4 120 X B59751C0120A070
C755 560 800 500 ±25 110 1.4 120 X B59755C0115A070
Inrush current limiters
Leaded disks, coated
Page 2 of 11Please read Cautions and warnings and
Important notes at the end of this document.
Reliability data
Test Standard Test conditions R25/R25
Electrical endurance,
cycling
Room temperature, Vlink,max
applied energy < Cth (Tref TA)
Number of cycles: 100 000
< 25%
Electrical endurance,
constant
IEC 60738-1 Storage at Vmax /Top,max (Vmax)
Test duration: 1000 h
< 25%
Damp heat IEC 60738-1 Temperature of air: 40 °C
Relative humidity of air: 93%
Duration: 56 days
Test according to IEC 60068-2-78
< 10%
Rapid change
of temperature
IEC 60738-1 T1= Top,min (0 V), T2= Top,max (0 V)
Number of cycles: 5
Test duration: 30 min
Test according to IEC 60068-2-14, test Na
< 10%
Vibration IEC 60738-1 Frequency range: 10 to 55 Hz
Displacement amplitude: 0.75 mm
Test duration: 3 ×2 h
Test according to IEC 60068-2-6, test Fc
< 5%
Climatic sequence IEC 60738-1 Dry heat: T = Top,max (0 V)
Test duration: 16 h
Damp heat first cycle
Cold: T = Top,min (0 V)
Test duration: 2 h
Damp heat 5 cycles
Tests performed according to
IEC 60068-2-30
< 10%
Inrush current limiters
Leaded disks, coated
Page 3 of 11Please read Cautions and warnings and
Important notes at the end of this document.
Characteristics
Minimum resistance of PTC thermistors
versus applied voltage (pulsed)
PTC resistance RPTC versus
PTC temperature TPTC
(measured at low signal voltage)
Switching time tSversus switching current IS
(measured at 25 °C in still air)
Residual current in high-ohmic state Ires as
function of applied voltage VPTC, typical
(measured at 25 °C in still air)
Inrush current limiters
Leaded disks, coated
Page 4 of 11Please read Cautions and warnings and
Important notes at the end of this document.
Characteristics
Minimum resistance of PTC thermistors
versus applied voltage (pulsed)
PTC resistance RPTC versus
PTC temperature TPTC
(measured at low signal voltage)
Switching time tSversus switching current IS
(measured at 25 °C in still air)
Residual current in high-ohmic state Ires as
function of applied voltage VPTC, typical
(measured at 25 °C in still air)
Inrush current limiters
Leaded disks, coated
Page 5 of 11Please read Cautions and warnings and
Important notes at the end of this document.
Calculation of the number of required PTC elements
Number of required PTC elements (connected in parallel) as function of capacitance and charging
voltage of smoothing or DC link capacitor:
N Number of required PTC thermistors connected in parallel
C Capacitance of smoothing or DC link capacitor in F
V Charging voltage of capacitor in V
Cth Heat capacity in J/K
Tref Reference temperature of PTC in °C
TA,max Expected maximum ambient temperature in °C
In case of large N values the resulting resistance of the parallel PTC network might be too low for
effective limitation of the charging current. In this case a combination of series and parallel
connected PTC thermistors can be used.
Inrush current limiters
Leaded disks, coated
Page 6 of 11Please read Cautions and warnings and
Important notes at the end of this document.
Cautions and warnings
General
EPCOS thermistors are designed for specific applications and should not be used for purposes
not identified in our specifications, application notes and data books unless otherwise agreed
with EPCOS during the design-in-phase.
Ensure suitability of thermistor through reliability testing during the design-in phase. The ther-
mistors should be evaluated taking into consideration worst-case conditions.
Storage
Store thermistors only in original packaging. Do not open the package before storage.
Storage conditions in original packaging: storage temperature 25 °C ... +45 °C, relative hu-
midity 75% annual mean, maximum 95%, dew precipitation is inadmissible.
Avoid contamination of thermistors surface during storage, handling and processing.
Avoid storage of thermistor in harmful environment with effect on function on long-term opera-
tion (examples given under operation precautions).
Use thermistor within the following period after delivery:
Through-hole devices (housed and leaded PTCs): 24 months
Motor protection sensors, glass-encapsulated sensors and probe assemblies: 24 months
Telecom pair and quattro protectors (TPP, TQP): 24 months
Leadless PTC thermistors for pressure contacting: 12 months
Leadless PTC thermistors for soldering: 6 months
SMDs in EIA sizes 3225 and 4032, and for PTCs with metal tags: 24 months
SMDs in EIA sizes 0402, 0603, 0805 and 1210: 12 months
Handling
PTCs must not be dropped. Chip-offs must not be caused during handling of PTCs.
Components must not be touched with bare hands. Gloves are recommended.
Avoid contamination of thermistor surface during handling.
Soldering (where applicable)
Use rosin-type flux or non-activated flux.
Insufficient preheating may cause ceramic cracks.
Rapid cooling by dipping in solvent is not recommended.
Complete removal of flux is recommended.
Standard PTC heaters are not suitable for soldering.
Inrush current limiters
Leaded disks, coated
Page 7 of 11Please read Cautions and warnings and
Important notes at the end of this document.
Mounting
Electrode must not be scratched before/during/after the mounting process.
Contacts and housing used for assembly with thermistor have to be clean before mounting. Es-
pecially grease or oil must be removed.
When PTC thermistors are encapsulated with sealing material, the precautions given in chapter
"Mounting instructions", "Sealing and potting" must be observed.
When the thermistor is mounted, there must not be any foreign body between the electrode of
the thermistor and the clamping contact.
The minimum force of the clamping contacts pressing against the PTC must be 10 N.
During operation, the thermistor’s surface temperature can be very high. Ensure that adjacent
components are placed at a sufficient distance from the thermistor to allow for proper cooling at
the thermistors.
Ensure that adjacent materials are designed for operation at temperatures comparable to the
surface temperature of thermistor. Be sure that surrounding parts and materials can withstand
this temperature.
Avoid contamination of thermistor surface during processing.
Operation
Use thermistors only within the specified temperature operating range.
Use thermistors only within the specified voltage and current ranges.
Environmental conditions must not harm the thermistors. Use thermistors only in normal at-
mospheric conditions. Avoid use in deoxidizing gases (chlorine gas, hydrogen sulfide gas, am-
monia gas, sulfuric acid gas etc), corrosive agents, humid or salty conditions. Contact with any
liquids and solvents should be prevented.
Be sure to provide an appropriate fail-safe function to prevent secondary product damage
caused by abnormal function (e.g. use VDR for limitation of overvoltage condition).
This listing does not claim to be complete, but merely reflects the experience of EPCOS AG.
Inrush current limiters
Leaded disks, coated
Page 8 of 11Please read Cautions and warnings and
Important notes at the end of this document.
Symbols and terms
A Area
C Capacitance
Cth Heat capacity
f Frequency
I Current
Imax Maximum current
IRRated current
Ires Residual current
IPTC PTC current
IrResidual currrent
Ir,oil Residual currrent in oil (for level sensors)
Ir,air Residual currrent in air (for level sensors)
IRMS Root-mean-square value of current
ISSwitching current
ISmax Maximum switching current
LCT Lower category temperature
N Number (integer)
NcOperating cycles at Vmax, charging of capacitor
NfSwitching cycles at Vmax, failure mode
P Power
P25 Maximum power at 25 °C
Pel Electrical power
Pdiss Dissipation power
RGGenerator internal resistance
Rmin Minimum resistance
RRRated resistance
RRTolerance of RR
RPParallel resistance
RPTC PTC resistance
Rref Reference resistance
RSSeries resistance
R25 Resistance at 25 °C
R25,match Resistance matching per reel/ packing unit at 25 °C
R25 Tolerance of R25
T Temperature
t Time
TAAmbient temperature
taThermal threshold time
Inrush current limiters
Leaded disks, coated
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Important notes at the end of this document.
TCFerroelectric Curie temperature
tESettling time (for level sensors)
TRRated temperature
Tsense Sensing temperature
Top Operating temperature
TPTC PTC temperature
tRResponse time
Tref Reference temperature
TRmin Temperature at minimum resistance
tSSwitching time
Tsurf Surface temperature
UCT Upper category temperature
V or Vel Voltage (with subscript only for distinction from volume)
Vc(max) Maximum DC charge voltage of the surge generator
VF,max Maximum voltage applied at fault conditions in protection mode
VRMS Root-mean-square value of voltage
VBD Breakdown voltage
Vins Insulation test voltage
Vlink,max Maximum link voltage
Vmax Maximum operating voltage
Vmax,dyn Maximum dynamic (short-time) operating voltage
Vmeas Measuring voltage
Vmeas,max Maximum measuring voltage
VRRated voltage
VPTC Voltage drop across a PTC thermistor
αTemperature coefficient
Tolerance, change
δth Dissipation factor
τth Thermal cooling time constant
λFailure rate
Lead spacing (in mm)
Abbreviations / Notes
Surface-mount devices
* To be replaced by a number in ordering codes, type designations etc.
+ To be replaced by a letter
All dimensions are given in mm.
The commas used in numerical values denote decimal points.
Inrush current limiters
Leaded disks, coated
Page 10 of 11Please read Cautions and warnings and
Important notes at the end of this document.
The following applies to all products named in this publication:
1. Some parts of this publication contain statements about the suitability of our products for
certain areas of application. These statements are based on our knowledge of typical re-
quirements that are often placed on our products in the areas of application concerned. We
nevertheless expressly point out that such statements cannot be regarded as binding
statements about the suitability of our products for a particular customer application.
As a rule, EPCOS is either unfamiliar with individual customer applications or less familiar
with them than the customers themselves. For these reasons, it is always ultimately incum-
bent on the customer to check and decide whether an EPCOS product with the properties de-
scribed in the product specification is suitable for use in a particular customer application.
2. We also point out that in individual cases, a malfunction of electronic components or
failure before the end of their usual service life cannot be completely ruled out in the
current state of the art, even if they are operated as specified. In customer applications
requiring a very high level of operational safety and especially in customer applications in
which the malfunction or failure of an electronic component could endanger human life or
health (e.g. in accident prevention or lifesaving systems), it must therefore be ensured by
means of suitable design of the customer application or other action taken by the customer
(e.g. installation of protective circuitry or redundancy) that no injury or damage is sustained by
third parties in the event of malfunction or failure of an electronic component.
3. The warnings, cautions and product-specific notes must be observed.
4. In order to satisfy certain technical requirements, some of the products described in this
publication may contain substances subject to restrictions in certain jurisdictions (e.g.
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Important notes
Page 11 of 11