AEM Components announces the availability of its new line of AEC-Q200 qualified surface-mount fuses designed specifically for reliable operation in high-stress automotive applications. The new wire-in-air AirMatrix (QA Series) and solid body SolidMatrix (QF Series) fuses are manufactured in AEM’s TS16949-certified facility. The two product series together offer automotive design engineers with products that assure reliable performance in applications ranging from engine controls and battery-management systems to infotainment and communications systems.
The QA Series features the industry’s highest current ratings — up to 20A/250V. Its proprietary, hermetically-sealed wire-in-air structure assures consistent electrical performance The QF solid-body fuses utilize AEM’s proprietary, anti-sulfur end-cap construction and provide superior mechanical and thermal stability over a wide temperature range (-55°C to +150°C).
The fusible element in the QA Series wire-in-air devices is uniformly straight across the internal cavity and externally bonded to the endcap through the plating process .Competitive units utilize solder beads inside a ceramic tube to bond the fusible link. This traditional approach has the drawback of non-uniform performance and potential internal connection failure caused by mechanical/thermal stress like vibration or bending, or by common soldering defects like cold joints or poor wetting. Under high-stress conditions, the solder can vaporize, causing prolonged arcing that can lead to package failure and damage to the circuit board and surrounding components. In comparison, our automotive-grade fuses are designed specifically to enhance reliability in harsh environments by eliminating the solder joint.
The QA Series is offered in two fast-acting versions: a 2410 package with a 0.5-20A/65-250V rating and a 1206 package rated at 1.5-15A/32-65V. Auto-grade QF parts are offered in fast-acting and time-lag versions, and in 1206 and 0603 versions with current ratings up to 8A.