GRL NGTC000 aR Ceramic Fuse Links for Semiconductor Equipment protection AC 690V 10A-315A Low Voltage Square Fuses

Parameter：

Rated Voltage：

690V AC

Current Range：

10~315A

Breaking Capacity：

100kA

Protection Category：

Standards：

GB/T 13539.4 IEC 60269-4

Certifications：

CCC CE TUV

Certification Contact Us

Description

Semiconductor Fuse Link Technical Parameters

model	size	Rated voltage V	Rated current A	Rated breaking capacity kA
NGTC000-10A	000	690	10	100
NGTC000-16A			16
NGTCO00-20A			20
NGTCO00-25A			25
NGTCO00-32A			32
NGTC000-40A			40
NGTC000-50A			50
NGTC000-63A			63
NGTC000-80A			80
NGTC000-100A			100
NGTCO00-125A			125
NGTC000-160A			160
NGTCO00-200A			200
NGTC000-250A			250
NGTC000-315A			315

Unlocking High-Performance Protection: GRL NGTC000 Series Fuses for Power Electronics

In the world of modern industrial control and high-power applications, the reliability and longevity of equipment are paramount. At the heart of most advanced power conversion systems—such as Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), sophisticated rectifiers, and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)—lies the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT). As the primary switching device, the IGBT is powerful yet incredibly sensitive to short-circuit faults and overcurrent events. When a fault occurs, the reaction time is measured in microseconds. A slow protective response means the difference between a minor service interruption and catastrophic, costly equipment failure, often resulting in a violent case rupture.

This is where the GRL NGTC000 series of high-speed semiconductor protection fuses becomes an indispensable safety asset. Engineered specifically for this highly demanding environment, the NGTC000 series provides the ultra-fast short-circuit protection necessary to safeguard vulnerable power semiconductor components and their associated complete equipment sets.

IGBT modules

The Critical Role of High-Speed Fuses in Modern Industrial Systems

The GRL NGTC000 series is designed to operate within AC systems with rated voltages of 400V, 690V, and 1000V, covering the vast majority of medium-to-high voltage industrial applications. Its unique design ensures extremely low I2t (ampere-squared seconds) let-through energy, which is the key metric for semiconductor protection. By limiting the energy let-through during a short-circuit, the fuse clears the fault before the IGBT’s thermal and current limits are reached, thus preventing its destruction.

The primary application focus for the NGTC000 series centers on three crucial areas:

1. Protection within Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)

VFDs are essential for energy efficiency and precise motor control across industries, from HVAC and water treatment to conveyors and heavy machinery. A VFD typically consists of a rectifier stage, a DC link, and an inverter stage—the latter of which employs multiple IGBT modules.

The Threat: Common faults in VFDs include “shoot-through” (where both IGBTs in a bridge leg turn on simultaneously due to a control error or noise), phase-to-phase shorts on the motor side, or a short on the DC bus. These events create massive, rapidly rising fault currents.

The NGTC000 Solution: The NGTC000 fuses are strategically placed to protect the IGBTs in the inverter section or within the DC link. Their high-speed response ensures that if the IGBT’s own internal electronic protection (like de-saturation detection) fails or is too slow, the fuse isolates the fault in milliseconds. This action prevents the fault from propagating and causing collateral damage to other high-value components, often limiting damage to the fuse itself and preventing the module explosion, as confirmed by numerous studies on high-power IGBT protection.

2. Safeguarding High-Power Rectifier Systems

Rectifiers convert AC input power to DC power, a fundamental step in any power electronics system. High-power rectifiers often utilize controllable semiconductor switches (like IGBTs or SCRs/Thyristors) to ensure power quality or in active front-end (AFE) designs.

The Threat: Faults can occur on the AC input side (line-to-line or line-to-ground faults) or on the internal DC bus. As these systems scale up to higher power (e.g., in large industrial power supplies or charging stations), the available fault current can be enormous.

The NGTC000 Solution: By applying the NGTC000 series fuses, high-voltage rectifiers gain a crucial, final line of defense against short-circuits. Operating at up to 1000V AC, these fuses are perfectly rated to handle the high voltages and energy of industrial AC mains, protecting the power conversion stage and maintaining system integrity.

3. Critical Protection for General Industrial Control Equipment

Beyond VFDs and rectifiers, the IGBT is the workhorse of industrial control, found in welding equipment, induction heating systems, soft starters, and power supplies for automation.

The Threat: Any short circuit within these high-power loops—whether a component failure or a wiring fault—can instantaneously destroy the delicate semiconductor junctions.

The NGTC000 Solution: The ultra-fast current limiting provided by the GRL NGTC000 series guarantees that your expensive IGBT modules are preserved, minimizing downtime, reducing repair costs, and significantly enhancing the safety profile of the entire system by mitigating the risk of fire and explosion.

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Built for Reliability

Choosing a fuse for semiconductor protection requires a deep understanding of its unique characteristics: speed, low melting integral (I2t), and high-interrupting rating. The GRL NGTC000 series is specifically engineered to meet these rigorous demands, offering superior performance and peace of mind in high-voltage, high-power AC systems.

By integrating the GRL NGTC000 series into your designs, you ensure that your power electronic systems—from industrial controls to VFDs and rectifiers—are protected by a highly reliable, current-limiting device, securing the performance and lifespan of your most critical power semiconductor components.

Semiconductor Fuse Link FAQs

Q1. What is the primary function of the GRL NGTC000 series fuse?

The GRL NGTC000 series is a line of high-speed, current-limiting fuses designed specifically for the short-circuit protection of power semiconductor devices, such as IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors), diodes, thyristors (SCRs), and MOSFETs. Its primary function is to react much faster than standard industrial fuses, isolating a fault before the protected semiconductor is irreversibly damaged by excessive heat (Joule energy).

Q2. What are the key applications for the NGTC000 series?

These fuses are essential in high-power electronic systems where rapid fault isolation is critical. Key applications include:

Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) / Inverters: Protecting the IGBTs in the inverter stage from short-circuit and shoot-through faults.
Industrial Control Equipment: Safeguarding power conversion circuits in large machinery, soft starters, and power supplies.
Rectifiers (AC-DC Converters): Protecting the semiconductor bridge from faults on both the AC line and DC bus.
Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) and Energy Storage Systems (ESS).

Q3. What voltage systems is the NGTC000 series suitable for?

The NGTC000 series is specifically designed for use in AC systems with rated voltages of 400V, 690V, and 1000V. Please ensure the voltage rating of the selected fuse is equal to or greater than the maximum operating voltage of your circuit.

Q4. Why is a “high-speed” fuse necessary for IGBT protection, and how is it different from a standard fuse?

IGBTs can be destroyed by short-circuit current in as little as 5 to 10 microseconds. A standard industrial fuse reacts too slowly to protect them. The NGTC000 is a high-speed fuse, meaning it has a specially designed pure silver element with reduced cross-sections (necks) and a unique filler material. This design ensures extremely rapid melting and arc quenching, resulting in a significantly lower melting integral ( $I^{2} t$ ) and peak let-through current compared to a standard fuse. This ultra-fast response is what saves the semiconductor device.

Q5. What is the $I^{2} t$ value, and why is it the most critical factor for selecting a semiconductor fuse?

$I^{2} t$ (Ampere-squared seconds) is a measure of the total thermal energy a fault current delivers to a circuit during the fuse’s operating time (the energy let-through).

The pre-arcing $I^{2} t$ is the energy required to just melt the fuse element.
The total clearing $I^{2} t$ is the energy let-through to the protected component.

Selection Rule: To ensure proper protection, the fuse’s total clearing $I^{2} t$ must be less than the withstand $I^{2} t$ (or non-fusing $I^{2} t$ ) rating of the semiconductor device (e.g., the IGBT). The lower the NGTC000’s $I^{2} t$ , the better the protection.

Q6. How do I size the correct NGTC000 fuse for my application?

Fuse selection requires matching several parameters:

Rated Voltage: Must be $\geq$ System Voltage (e.g., 690V fuse for a 480V system).
Rated Current: The fuse’s current rating must be derated (adjusted) for continuous operation based on ambient temperature, enclosure, and thermal cycling. Generally, the fuse’s continuous rating should be $\approx 1.25$ to $1.5$ times the expected RMS operating current, adjusted per the manufacturer’s derating curves.
Protection ( $I^{2} t$ ): Ensure the fuse’s total clearing $I^{2} t$ is less than the IGBT’s $I^{2} t$ withstand capability, typically with a safety margin (e.g., $I^{2} t_{fuse} < 0.6 \times I^{2} t_{IGBT}$ ).

Q7. Does the NGTC000 series also protect against overloads?

No. High-speed semiconductor fuses like the NGTC000 series are optimized for extremely fast short-circuit protection. They typically do not have good protection characteristics for long-duration, low-level overloads. Overload protection (e.g., currents 2-3 times the nominal rating lasting for several seconds) should be handled by the system’s electronic controls, such as the VFD’s overload detection and trip circuit.

Q8. What mounting styles are available for the NGTC000 series?

The NGTC000 series is available in standard industrial packages common for semiconductor protection. The specific form factors (e.g., North American Bolted Type, European Square Body) depend on the exact ampere rating and voltage of the fuse, and details can be found in the product datasheet.

Q9. Are these fuses current-limiting?

Yes. The GRL NGTC000 series is a current-limiting fuse. This means that during a high-level short-circuit fault, the fuse melts and introduces a high arc resistance so quickly that the fault current never reaches the value it would have without the fuse in the circuit (the “available peak current”). This severe current limitation is crucial for protecting semiconductors.

Q10. What industry standards does the GRL NGTC000 series meet?

The NGTC000 series is designed and tested to comply with international standards relevant to high-speed semiconductor protection fuses, typically including IEC 60269-4 and/or relevant UL standards, confirming their performance in terms of rated voltage, current, and interrupting capacity.

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