Application Scenarios
In a large mining operation, a 500kW ABB ACS800 medium-voltage drive controls the main conveyor belt transporting ore. During a sudden power module failure, a short circuit occurred on the DC bus. The ABB 170M5388 fuse, installed directly on the positive DC bus rail adjacent to the IGBT module, cleared the fault current in just a few milliseconds . This rapid response limited the let-through energy (I²t) below the semiconductor’s damage threshold, preventing an explosion of the entire power stack. The plant was able to replace the fuse and the failed module and restore production within hours, avoiding what would have been a multi-day repair and hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue. This scenario underscores the ABB 170M5388 as a critical “sacrificial switch” that protects the most valuable assets in a drive system .
Parameter
| Main Parameters | Value/Description |
|---|---|
| Product Model | 170M5388 / PC72UD13C250T |
| Order Code | 3AUA0000090404 |
| Manufacturer | ABB (Protistor® 170M Series) |
| Product Category | Semiconductor Protection Fuse (aR Class) |
| Rated Current (Iₙ) | 250 A |
| Rated Voltage (Uₙ) | 690 V AC (IEC) / up to 1250 V AC (UL) |
| Breaking Capacity | ≥ 100 kA @ 690V AC |
| Pre-arcing I²t | ~6,500 A²s |
| Total I²t | 38,500–51,500 A²s (voltage dependent) |
| Power Dissipation | ~65 W @ 250A |
| Indicator | Central Striker Pin (Type K) |
| Mounting | Bolt-on (Blade-type, M10 mounting holes) |
| Dimensions (L×W×H) | 168 × 124 × 80 mm |
| Operating Temperature | -25°C to +70°C (derating required at high temp) |
| Standards | IEC 60269-4, UL 248-13 |
Technical Principles and Innovative Values
- Ultra-Fast Response for Semiconductor Protection: The ABB 170M5388 is designed to clear fault currents in the microsecond-to-millisecond range, significantly faster than standard gG/gL fuses or circuit breakers, which require tens of milliseconds to operate . This speed is critical because power semiconductors like IGBTs can only withstand short-circuit currents for a few microseconds before thermal destruction. The fuse acts as a “sacrificial switch” that deliberately melts before the semiconductor fails .
- Low Let-Through Energy (I²t) Matching: The ABB 170M5388 features a precisely engineered silver melting element and quartz sand arc-quenching medium. Its arc-pre and total I²t values are meticulously calibrated to be lower than the short-circuit withstand capability of the target IGBT or thyristor . This ensures that the energy (I²t) passed through to the semiconductor during a fault is insufficient to cause damage, a critical differentiation from general-purpose fuses that lack such precision.
- High Voltage & High Breaking Capacity: With a voltage rating of up to 1250V AC and a breaking capacity of ≥100 kA, the ABB 170M5388 is suitable for use on the DC bus of medium-voltage drives and in power converters connected to high-capacity industrial grids . Its robust design ensures it can safely interrupt the highest fault currents without rupturing.
- Integrated Striker Indicator for Rapid Diagnostics: The built-in central striker pin provides immediate visual indication of fuse operation . This feature simplifies troubleshooting by allowing maintenance engineers to quickly identify the blown phase in multi-phase systems, reducing diagnostic time during unplanned downtime events.
