RIVERSIDE, Calif., October 17, 2017 – Bourns, Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier of electronic components, today expanded its standard-setting line of volume and space saving FLAT® gas discharge tube (GDT) surge arrestors. The Model 2018 Series FLAT® GDT is a 3-electrode device that delivers a low profile solution for high density and height-restricted PCB-based applications. The new series is lighter weight with a 50 % height reduction compared to standard 8 mm Bourns® GDTs. Bourns designed this latest series as a surface mount device with a large top flat surface, making it ideal for vacuum head pickup in today’s high-speed pick and place manufacturing.

The Bourns® FLAT® GDT Model 2018 is an ITU K.12 Class III device rated at 20 kA¹ on an 8/20 µs waveform. The series is offered with DC breakdown voltages ranging from 90 to 500 V and features an innovative flat design that reduces the height of the Bourns® GDT from a typical 8 mm to a low profile of 3.5 mm.

“Besides saving valuable PCB space, these new 3-electrode FLAT® GDT devices help to reduce component count in space-constrained designs. The series provides the ability to protect both Line to Ground and Line to Line with a single Model 2018 FLAT® GDT, which previously required two GDTs,” said Kurt Wattelet, product line manager at Bourns, Inc. “As a 3-electrode GDT, transverse voltage limiting performance is enhanced with the ability to share a common center electrode designed to allow both sides of the GDT to turn on quickly resulting in balanced operation.”

Pricing and Availability
The new Bourns® FLAT® GDT Model 2018 Series is available now and is RoHS compliant*.  As a pricing reference, the Model 2018 Series is priced at $0.98 each in 100 piece quantities. For additional product specifications, please go to: www.bourns.com/products/circuit-protection/gas-discharge-tube-(gdt)-surge-arrestors/3-electrode-gdts/flat-series-3-electrode

¹ Total current rating through center electrode, half value each line to center electrode.

About Bourns
Bourns, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and supplier of automotive sensors, circuit protection solutions, magnetic products, microelectronic modules, trimming and precision potentiometers, panel controls and encoders and resistive products. Headquartered in Riverside, CA, Bourns serves a broad range of markets, including telecommunications, computer, industrial, instrumentation, automotive, consumer, non-critical life support medical, audio and various other market segments. Bourns® products are manufactured according to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards under Six Sigma quality programs. Bourns® automotive products are manufactured in accordance with the ISO/TS 16949 standard. Additional company and product information is available at the company’s website at http://www.bourns.com.

*RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC Jan. 27, 2003 including annex and RoHS Recast 2011/65/EU June 8, 2011.

**Bourns follows the prevailing definition of “halogen free” in the industry. Bourns considers a product to be “halogen free” if (a) the Bromine (Br) content is 900 ppm or less; (b) the Chlorine (Cl) content is 900 ppm or less; and (c) the total Bromine (Br) and Chlorine (Cl) content is 1500 ppm or less.