Shenzhen UN's model UN0603 resettable fuse has 50mA to 1.1A hold current and 6, 9 or 15V rated voltage. It meets RoHS.

Companies maintain line buildup, targeting mobile electronics applications. They offer one-time and resettable units.

The robust portable electronics industry continues to drive SMD fuses production in China. Makers are boosting output in anticipation of higher demand in more-compact and -powerful mobile phones, tablet PCs, digital cameras and game consoles. This will result in the type’s steadily growing share of the local fuses yield in coming years, which is more than 30 percent at present.

For suppliers such as Shenzhen UN Semiconductor Co. Ltd, these compact units already surpass half of turnout. The manufacturer is looking to elevate it to 70 percent by end-2014 from 60 percent. Shenzhen Lanson Electronic Co. Ltd will also implement a 10 percent increase, bringing the portion to 30 percent. At Dongguan Better Electronics Technology Co. Ltd, SMD kinds account for 30 percent.

To diversify selections dominated by one-time variants, some manufacturers are bolstering the release of resettable units. They highlight the latter as an alternative overcurrent protection device, which by its inherent self-restoring nature, reduces servicing and repair costs. Shenzhen UN has been focusing on resettable types since it entered the line in 2010. The company’s 0603 series ensures plug-and-play safety for PC motherboards, and protects mobile phone batteries and ports, and game console connection points. The model boasts 50mA to 1.1A hold current and 6, 9 or 15V rated voltage. Dongguan Better divides production between the SMD fuse types.

Many suppliers are keeping miniaturization on the agenda to meet orders for smaller configurations. They can make 0402 units but currently turn them out on request only. A few companies such as Shenzhen UN will develop models next year. The maker offers 0603 to 2920 types, with those in 1206 and 1812 dominating its yield.

Improved performance remains an objective. For one-time versions, China manufacturers have elevated the rated voltage to 125V and the corresponding current to 20A. In resettable types, they have achieved 60V and 4A.

The line’s sales growth is projected to exceed 10 percent annually. Interviewed makers have set higher targets. Shenzhen UN is eyeing 20 to 30 percent greater revenue by end-2014. Shenzhen Lanson aims for about 20 percent increase. Its selection is made up entirely of one-time SMD fuses, half of which are 0603 models and the other in 1206.

About 300 companies in mainland China offer the compact safety device. More than 80 percent are locally owned. The rest include major foreign players such as TE Connectivity, Littelfuse, and Hong Kong- and Taiwan-invested operations.

The majority of the suppliers are in the Pearl River and Yangtze River Delta regions. Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, and Shanghai are the key hubs.

One-time, resettable types

One-time and resettable SMD fuses from mainland makers come in 0402, 0603, 0805, 1206, 1210, 1812, 2016 and 2920 versions. Leading the former’s output are 0603 and 1206 units, while 1206 and 1812 versions rule in the second kind.

The main applications are telecom products, computers and peripherals, with resettable units also widely employed in medical equipment and white goods, and onetime counterparts in A/V and other consumer electronics. Resettable kinds are used, in particular, in I/O ports such as USB, A/V, CAN, LAN and FireWire, and in rechargeable battery packs. Products are likewise adopted in the automotive and industrial equipment sectors.

The key materials used are ceramic, epoxy resin and glass for the fuse body, and tin, silver and copper for the terminations. The last two inputs have nickel and tin plating. For fuse elements, one-time units employ tinned copper, silver and lead alloy, and resettable types polymer with conductive carbon black. The materials are sourced locally.

Prices are expected to remain stable in the next six months.

Product gallery

Dongguan Better Electronics Technology Co. Ltd
(Mainland China)

Model: 1206 Series
MOQ: 3,000 units
Delivery: 10 days
Description: 1206; 12, 32VAC, 63, 125VDC; 0.25 to 20A; 50A breaking capacity at 32, 63VDC 250mA to 3A, 32VAC/DC 4 to 7A, 150A at 24VAC/DC 10 to 20A

Shenzhen Lanson Electronic Co. Ltd
(Mainland China)

Model: 12H
MOQ: 3,000 units
Delivery: 3 days
Description: 32V; 1 to 5A; 50A breaking capacity at 63VDC 1 to 4A, 100A at 32VDC
4.5 to 5A; high inrush current withstand capability; glass-coated ceramic substrate; silver-over-nickel-, tin-plated terminals; UL

Shenzhen UN Semiconductor Co. Ltd
(Mainland China)

Model: UN0603
MOQ: 5,000 units
Delivery: 7 days
Description: Resettable type; low resistance, fast time-to-trip; overcurrent protection; for motherboards, mobile phones, game consoles, USB peripherals, optical disk drives, PDAs, digital cameras, power ports, general electronics; RoHS

Walter Electronic Co. Ltd
(Taiwan)

Model: 0603F
Description: Copper, nickel or tin electrode; alumina substrate; copper, silver or tin body; 260 C maximum wave, reflow soldering temperature for 10s; -55 to 150 C operating, 10 to 40 C storage temperatures