Protecting low voltage electronics is rarely straightforward when designers must balance compact form factors with stringent electrical and mechanical demands. Surface mount fuses in particular face a set of constraints that often limit their voltage ratings or vibration tolerance. SCHURTER’s USE 2410 fuse is built to shift that balance by delivering higher voltage performance and predictable behaviour in a standard 2410 footprint. It aims to support engineers who are trying to increase robustness without moving to larger cartridge styles or custom protection circuits.
Wire In Air Construction For High Voltage Operation
The most distinctive feature of the USE 2410 is its wire in air architecture. Rather than embedding the melting wire in a filled structure, SCHURTER suspends the element so it runs freely within the cavity. This helps maintain clearance distances and reduces the impact of surrounding materials on thermal performance. For high voltage designers, that matters because traditional 2410 fuses often struggle to achieve 250 VAC ratings without moving to bulkier geometries. The wire in air approach also removes internal solder joints, which can behave unpredictably under vibration or repeated thermal cycling. This is particularly relevant in mobile equipment, battery powered devices and compact industrial units where mechanical stress is an everyday condition.
Electrical Behaviour And Breaking Capacity
The fuse carries a 125 to 250 VAC rating and supports up to 125 VDC, which is notable for its size class. A breaking capacity up to 200 A provides a safety margin for equipment with large inrush currents or power supplies that can deliver substantial fault energy. In practice this means the device can interrupt severe overloads without fragmenting or compromising the circuit board. The melting characteristics are tuned for quick acting behaviour, so tripping remains predictable across its 0.6 to 10 A rated current range. Low internal resistance also helps limit voltage drop across the fuse, which is useful in battery powered systems and LED drivers where efficiency and heat rise are tightly controlled.
Mechanical Construction And Integration Considerations
The materials chosen for the USE 2410 support its performance in demanding conditions. Fibre reinforced plastic with UL 94V 0 flammability characteristics forms the housing, while the terminals use gold plated copper to maintain reliable contact during repeated thermal cycles. The lack of internal solder joints improves vibration tolerance, and the sealed design prevents potting compounds from penetrating the cavity during encapsulation. Engineers building motor controllers, white goods or medical modules often rely on potting for moisture protection and mechanical stability, so a fuse designed to withstand that process reduces rework and qualification effort. Assembly is straightforward because the component is fully reflow solderable and supplied in large volume tape packaging suited to automated placement.
Positioning Within Future Protection Strategies
Demand for compact high voltage protection continues to rise in platforms where space and reliability must coexist. Equipment designers are pushing for thinner enclosures and denser layouts while also increasing the energy stored in the system. A fuse that maintains high voltage performance in a 2410 footprint can help engineers delay or avoid transitions to larger cartridge based solutions. It also reinforces a trend toward more predictable behaviour under vibration and thermal cycling, which is becoming essential as automotive and aerospace electronics continue to shrink. For teams looking to simplify qualification across multiple markets, the combination of AEC Q200 testing, UL and VDE certification supports a path toward fewer protection variants across a product line.
Learn more and read the original announcement at www.schurter.com
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