Passive Components Elecfans · Kewei Technology industry research

Power-Type NTC Thermistors Explained

A power-type NTC thermistor is a semiconductor resistor whose resistance changes sharply with temperature — that is where the name comes from.

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A power-type NTC thermistor is a semiconductor resistor whose resistance changes sharply with temperature — that is where the name comes from.

In power applications its job is inrush current limiting: cold resistance is high, which limits the surge at power-on, and once it self-heats the resistance falls so losses become negligible.

Switch-mode power supplies, adapters and motor drives are the main applications, and the part is close to standard protection equipment in this class of product. Kewei Technology recommends checking three parameters above all: zero-power resistance, maximum steady-state current and thermal time constant.

Kewei's take: what this means for procurement

Capacitor and resistor prices usually lag chip prices, but when they move they move hard. Locking in prices on your highest-volume specs is the most direct way to control BOM cost.

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