Tyco Electronics has introduced four new products designed to meet the demanding requirements of the automotive market

They comprise a surface mount version of the industry's smallest power relay, the industry's first resettable battery disconnect switch, a customisable power relay module, and a complete subsystem for advanced wiper applications. Offering ideal performance characteristics for applications such as motor control, rear window heating, seat heating, lighting and indicator control, the MicroK SMD power relay features a tiny footprint of only 12.0 by 12.9mm and a height of only 11.3mm.

This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 22 March 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Available at nominal voltages of 10 or 12V DC (other voltages available on request), it weighs just 4.0g and is rated at a maximum continuous current of 30A at 23C (20A at 85C).

Offering low-noise operation and high sensitivity, the MicroK SMD relay also features a power-saving, high-impedance coil with a nominal (unsuppressed) power consumption of 0.64W at the nominal voltage.

Other features include a typical endurance of greater than 100,000 operations (resistive load 20A), convection and infrared reflow process compatibility, environmentally friendly contact material (silver tin oxide or fine-grained silver), sealing to IEC 60 068 and IP67 compliance as well as an operating temperature range of -40 to +105C and an upper limit temperature of 155C.

Claimed as an industry first, Tyco Electronics' battery disconnect switch (BDS) renders all current-carrying systems in a vehicle 100% safe.

Innovative switching technology delivers fast and reliable current disconnection directly at the battery terminal, or at the fuse or energy distribution box, and is triggered by a single pulse.
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Key features include: 6ms response time (at 12V), reset function (as opposed to a work-once principle), customisable triggering, and the ability to allow one of the two load connections to remain in place.

Consuming zero power in normal operation, the BDS has a maximum switching current of 1500A, and a limiting continuous current of 200A at 23C (130A at 100C).

With a nominal voltage of 12V, the switch has a mechanical endurance of 1000 cycles, is sealed to IEC 60 068, and is compliant with protection class IP67.

Tyco Electronics has also introduced an easily customised power relay module, the F4/7, specifically for applications such as power windows, fuel pumps, power sunroofs, wiper control, vehicle lighting, and cooling fans.

The relay features a footprint of 26.2 by 26.2mm, a height of 25.2mm, nominal voltages of 12 and 24V, a nominal (unsuppressed) power consumption of 1.6W at the nominal voltage, the option of quick connect or pre-tinned PCB terminals as well as a typical operating time of 7ms and a release time of 2ms.

With limiting continuous currents up to 70A at 23C (50A at 85C), the F4/7 has a pin assignment to ISO7880 or quick connect terminals positioned according to IS07558.

The F4/7 module is the basis of a number of complete subsystems also recently.

Designed for specific automotive applications such power sunroofs and vehicle lighting, these subsystems now include a cooling fan module able to adjust fan speed to a level appropriate for prevailing conditions within the vehicle.

As sources of power-drain increase in cars, this function is becoming increasingly important to protect the engine from overheating.