Prevent Inrush Current with PTC and NTC Thermistors PTC and NTC thermistors can provide inrush current protection in various equipment, machinery, and systems. Inrush current affects a wide range of products, from transformers to motors, and electronics from power supplies to inverters.  Inrush current becomes further complicated by systems that switch on and off quickly, such as welding equipment and HVAC systems. This post will give you a brief overview of … Continue Reading

Choosing An Inrush Current Limiter To Preserve Your DC Motor So, what does an Inrush Current Limiter have to do with DC motor inrush? More than you may think. DC motor inrush is the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by the DC motor when first turned on and it is important to know how to limit the inrush current to prevent possible damage to the motor. A DC motor converts … Continue Reading

Regulating Inrush Current at Powerup At powerup, DC/DC converters draw a large amount of electrical current.  This inrush current can be fatal to both the converter and the load if not controlled at the beginning. To achieve a soft start, when the electrical current rises gradually to its specified level, the use of an NTC Thermistor Inrush Current Limiter can be vital. DC/DC Converters DC/DC converters transform a source of … Continue Reading

NTC Thermistor Inrush Current Limiters are used to reduce the inrush current that occurs when an electrical device is switched on. High inrush current is the result of the maximum instantaneous input current drawn by electrical equipment during the initial power up. As technology continues to advance, most systems today run efficiently and maintain a low impedance, which in turn contributes to a high inrush current. Cool-Down Time After Power … Continue Reading

The sky is blue. The outdoor temperature is rising. The time to get that pool back up and running is now! Whether you run a pool business or are a pool owner, you know how important it is to have your pool chlorinator running smoothly, all season long. But what do you do when your pool chlorinator stops working?  Buying a new one might be the first thing that comes … Continue Reading

Reducing Inrush Current to Capacitors Calculating the amount of current flowing to a capacitor, then protecting your load from this initial flow of current is important for any electronic device. The ability to reduce this inrush, caused at powerup, can typically be accomplished by the use of an NTC (negative temperature coefficient) thermistor inrush current limiter. Cause of the Inrush Current Filter capacitors are devices designed to reduce the effect … Continue Reading

Inrush current protection for LED lighting retrofits can be key to a successful lighting upgrade. Retrofit of LED lighting into an existing electrical system relies on the equipment already in place. This can be problematical due to the high inrush current created by the LED drivers. Falling LED prices and immediate energy savings are propelling the upgrade of older lighting modalities to new LED lighting for commercial and institutional users. For facilities management, benefits of a … Continue Reading

Large power users require mitigation of inrush currents as part of overall energy management strategy. Industrial automation with motor drives and logic controllers, high voltage power supplies feeding industrial robotics and solar panel arrays with large capacity power inverters all require inrush current limiting. Overview   Inrush current is the momentary surge of current created when power is turned on to motors, transformers, power supplies and heating elements. These current … Continue Reading

We couldn’t keep it a secret any longer. Finally, a UL approved circuit protection thermistor (Inrush Current Limiter) that’s just 12.3mm in diameter but packs an energy rating of 40 (J), yes; we said 40 (J) plus a maximum continuous current rating of 6.0A. Meet our upgraded UL certified SL12 10006 for limiting inrush current. We think this device is a game changer! Up until now if an application required … Continue Reading

Limiting Heat Lamp Inrush Current Incandescent heat lamps create a large inrush current when first powered on. Limiting heat lamp inrush current prevents relay damage and extends lamp life. Heat lamps can be used to warm enclosed areas such as livestock pens and chicken coops. Banks of incandescent heat lamps are mounted overhead. As the number of heat lamps increases, limiting heat lamp inrush current becomes more important. Over current can damage relay contacts in … Continue Reading

Limit AC Motor Inrush Current In Air Conditioner Application AC motors used in air conditioning equipment draw large inrush current at power-on. A recent customer of ours had a 115VAC air conditioner installed in their travel trailer for park use. This 15,000-BTU unit required 16 amps for simultaneous compressor and blower motor operation. The trailer was also equipped with a load-shedding power distribution panel to protect its wiring harness from overload. If more … Continue Reading

An Inrush Current Limiter (ICL) can protect electrical equipment from overheating when switched on because of inrush current. And, because inrush current equals the maximum instantaneous surge of incoming current from a power source, it can be as much as 2 to 3 times the steady state current of the attached device. Inrush Current Calculators are the best way to measure the resistance versus temperature curve to get the right Inrush Current Limiter. … Continue Reading

Application Overview Ametherm’s MS35 series inrush current limiting thermistors play a key role in alternative energy applications by avoiding current spikes in the power generated by wind turbines, solar panels, and other sources as it’s fed into batteries, inverters, and other energy storage components. The MS35 devices are also used to regulate the release of battery energy in electric vehicles and in pre-charge circuits for many different types of battery … Continue Reading