Resistor saves space while increasing accuracy and efficiency

Vishay has announced a new surface-mount Power Metal Strip current sense resistor that combines a high power rating up to 6W, TCR down to ±70ppm/C, and extremely low resistance values down to 0.0003ohm in the 2512 case size. Providing a power density of 192W/in^2, the Vishay Dale WSLF2512 allows designers to save board space in high-power circuits by utilizing the smallest resistor possible. The device's low TCR provides stable and accurate current measurement across a wide temperature range, while its low resistance values minimize power losses and improve end product efficiency. The device’s advanced construction incorporates a solid metal nickel-chrome, manganese-copper, or manganese-copper-tin alloy resistive element with low TCR (<20ppm/C). This results in a higher-power resistor in a smaller size that maintains the superior electrical characteristics of the construction. A proprietary processing technique produces resistance values ranging from 0.0003ohm to 0.003ohm, with tolerances of ± 1% and ± 5%. The device provides low thermal EMF (<3µV/C), very low inductance (<2nH), and a temperature range from -65C to +170C. The resistor is ideal for all types of current sensing, voltage division, and pulse applications in power management for automotive electronic controls such as engine, transmission, anti-lock brakes, audio, and climate controls; inverter controls for down-hole test and measurement equipment and HVAC systems; and VRMs for servers. The device is RoHS-compliant, halogen-free, and Vishay Green.