MALVERN, PA — Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH) has introduced an automotive power resistor designed to move heat away from circuit boards and directly to a heatsink, addressing thermal constraints as vehicle electronics pack more power into smaller spaces.
The Vishay Sfernice D2TO35S is a top-side cooling mount thick film power resistor capable of dissipating 35 watts at 25 degrees Celsius in a surface-mount TO-263, or D²PAK, package.
When paired with an appropriate heatsink, the component can provide as much as nine times the power dissipation of standard PCB-mounted devices, according to Vishay.
The top-side cooling architecture transfers heat directly to a heatsink rather than relying primarily on the printed circuit board. That allows designers to increase power handling within an existing footprint or reduce the board space required for the same function.
The approach can also lower PCB temperatures and reduce thermal stress on components located near the resistor, potentially improving system reliability as heat becomes a more significant constraint in automotive electronics design.
The D2TO35S uses a non-inductive design intended for applications involving fast transient conditions. Its resistance range extends from 4.7 ohms to 550 kilohms, with tolerances as tight as plus or minus 1%.
The device has thermal resistance of 4.28 degrees Celsius per watt and a temperature coefficient of resistance as low as plus or minus 150 parts per million per degree Celsius. Its specified operating range extends from minus 55 degrees Celsius to 175 degrees Celsius.
The RoHS-compliant resistor is also rated to withstand solder reflow at 270 degrees Celsius for 10 seconds.
The product expands Vishay’s component offering for automotive systems as manufacturers increasingly shift power electronics toward cooling designs that reduce the thermal load carried by circuit boards.
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