With the promotion of automotive safety, environmental protection, energy saving and comfort, more and more electronic devices are being used in automobiles. Various types of new connectors and fuses are continuously being designed, with higher fuse-breaking capability. By now, the fuses used in the power battery of new energy vehicles are mostly bolt-type fuses, where the nominal current can reach 500A, of which the typical types are SF30 and SF51. One way to test the fuse's "fuse-time" is by using ITECH's high-power power supplies and electronic loads.
The fuse is used as a component that permanently disconnects the circuit under abnormal conditions (when the current overloads), and thus it plays a vital role in the safety of the vehicle. Therefore, the fuse timing test is an absolute "must-test" item. The international standard of road vehicle fuses (ISO8820-5_2007 and ISO8820-1_2005) defines the parameters in detail.
The fuse-related test consists of a variety of parts - break-over voltage drop test, fuse time test, step current, and segmentation capability tests. This article will look at the fuse-time testing of the SF30 and SF51.
The fuse is used as a component that permanently disconnects the circuit under abnormal conditions (when the current overloads), and thus it plays a vital role in the safety of the vehicle. Therefore, the fuse timing test is an absolute "must-test" item. The international standard of road vehicle fuses (ISO8820-5_2007 and ISO8820-1_2005) defines the parameters in detail.
The fuse-related test consists of a variety of parts - break-over voltage drop test, fuse time test, step current, and segmentation capability tests. This article will look at the fuse-time testing of the SF30 and SF51.
- 150A – 200A SF30 Fuse
- 300A – 500A SF51 Fuse
Fusing Time Test Requirements
The following image is taken from the ISO 8820-1_2007 international standard for the SF30 and SF51 fuse test. The fuse time needs to be tested with the overload current from 1.1IR~6.0IR. When the overload current is higher, the faster the fuse time. With a 500A fuse, 6IR means the overload current is 3000A, and the fuse time is measured under this condition.
The following image is taken from the ISO 8820-1_2007 international standard for the SF30 and SF51 fuse test. The fuse time needs to be tested with the overload current from 1.1IR~6.0IR. When the overload current is higher, the faster the fuse time. With a 500A fuse, 6IR means the overload current is 3000A, and the fuse time is measured under this condition.
Fusing Time Test Solution
For the test of the melting time at 3000A, an advanced electronic load matching power supply solution can form the basic test framework. However, there are still some difficulties that need to be considered, such as: (1) Fusing-time testing requires an additional oscilloscope, which can be expensive, and can cost a lot more if the fall time of current other than voltage needs to be tested. (2) With regards to hardware, there are not many professional instrument manufacturers that can meet both power supply and electronic load demands at 3000A. Many manufacturers use adjustable resistors instead, but the operation is very cumbersome. (3) Lack of professional testing software. (4) Using a 3000A power supply and load can be bulky in terms of instrument size, which can be a concern for laboratory staff.
In light of the above, ITECH's range of instruments, packed with powerful hardware and firmware, have made many advances in this field. ITECH already provide 3000A fuse-time test systems to many famous fuse manufacturer's laboratories.
For the test of the melting time at 3000A, an advanced electronic load matching power supply solution can form the basic test framework. However, there are still some difficulties that need to be considered, such as: (1) Fusing-time testing requires an additional oscilloscope, which can be expensive, and can cost a lot more if the fall time of current other than voltage needs to be tested. (2) With regards to hardware, there are not many professional instrument manufacturers that can meet both power supply and electronic load demands at 3000A. Many manufacturers use adjustable resistors instead, but the operation is very cumbersome. (3) Lack of professional testing software. (4) Using a 3000A power supply and load can be bulky in terms of instrument size, which can be a concern for laboratory staff.
In light of the above, ITECH's range of instruments, packed with powerful hardware and firmware, have made many advances in this field. ITECH already provide 3000A fuse-time test systems to many famous fuse manufacturer's laboratories.
Advantages of ITECH fusing time test system:
- Fig 2. Shows current waveform; The fusing-time is the duration of the current dropping from point C to E (Positive pulse width time). Time measurement accuracy is comparable to a high-accuracy oscilloscope.
Time measurement should be fulfilled by sending commands. For example, you can test the voltage rise and fall time from 1V to 8V and the current from 1A to 5A, using the following commands:
SYSTem: REMote
FUNCtion CURRent
CURRent 6
SENSe: TIME: VOLTage1 1
SENSe: TIME: VOLTage2 8
SENSe: TIME: CURRent1 1
SENSe: TIME: CURRent2 5
INPut 1
SENSe: TIME: VOLTage: UP?
SENSe: TIME: VOLTage: DOWN?
SENSe: TIME: CURRent: UP?
SENSe: TIME: CURRent: DOWN?
IT8900A/E series loads come with time measurement function, with accuracy comparable with an oscilloscope.
SYSTem: REMote
FUNCtion CURRent
CURRent 6
SENSe: TIME: VOLTage1 1
SENSe: TIME: VOLTage2 8
SENSe: TIME: CURRent1 1
SENSe: TIME: CURRent2 5
INPut 1
SENSe: TIME: VOLTage: UP?
SENSe: TIME: VOLTage: DOWN?
SENSe: TIME: CURRent: UP?
SENSe: TIME: CURRent: DOWN?
IT8900A/E series loads come with time measurement function, with accuracy comparable with an oscilloscope.
- In the fusing test solution, the maximum power of the IT8900A electronic load can reach up to 384 kW. The IT6000 power supply is only 3U high with 15 kW output which greatly reduces the size of the entire system.
- Professional PC software measures and records the fusing-time under different current rates, providing the fusing waveform.
Fuse Test
This test item mainly tests the fuse blown time at different rate currents.
Configuration Parameters
In general, ITECH has already produced a reliable and accurate fusing-time measurement system for the "New Energy" market. ITECH also offers on-board charger test systems and battery test systems and AC, DC charging station simulation systems, etc.