BK/GMC-2.5A Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The BK/GMC-2.5A is a 2.5 A 250 V AC DC glass cartridge fuse manufactured by Eaton - Electronics Division, designed for 5mm x 20mm holder applications. This part carries an obsolete product status. Identifying equivalent and substitute parts is necessary to maintain circuit protection functionality in applications where the original BK/GMC-2.5A is no longer available or when design requirements necessitate alternative compliance certifications or performance characteristics.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value
Current Rating	2.5 A
Voltage Rating - AC	250 V
Fuse Type	Cartridge, Glass
Package / Case	5mm x 20mm
Response Time	Medium Blow
Breaking Capacity @ Rated Voltage	100A
Melting I²t	13
DC Cold Resistance	0.035 Ohms
Mounting Type	Requires Holder

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitute parts for the BK/GMC-2.5A are classified into two categories based on electrical and mechanical compatibility:

Direct Manufacturer Equivalents (Eaton GMC Series - Active Status): Parts BK/GMC-2.5-R, BK1/GMC-2.5-R, and GMC-2.5-R are direct equivalents manufactured by Eaton. These parts maintain identical electrical specifications: 2.5 A current rating, 250 V AC voltage rating, medium blow response time, 100A breaking capacity, 13 melting I²t, and 0.035 Ohms DC cold resistance. All three share the same 5mm x 20mm package and require a holder for mounting. The primary distinction is product status: these parts are active and available, whereas the BK/GMC-2.5A is obsolete. BK/GMC-2.5-R and BK1/GMC-2.5-R are RoHS3 compliant; GMC-2.5-R is also RoHS3 compliant.

Parametric Equivalents (Littelfuse Series - Active Status): Parts 023202.5MXP, 023402.5MXBP, and 023402.5MXP from Littelfuse maintain the critical electrical parameters: 2.5 A current rating, 250 V AC voltage rating, medium blow response time, 100A breaking capacity, and 5mm x 20mm package. These parts differ in melting I²t values (13.875 to 17.045 versus 13 for the original) and DC cold resistance (0.0291 to 0.0521 Ohms versus 0.035 Ohms). All are RoHS3 compliant and active products.

Similar Parts (Littelfuse Series - Different Response Characteristics): Parts 021802.5HXP and 021802.5TXP are Littelfuse fuses with identical current, voltage, and package specifications but differ in response time (slow blow versus medium blow), breaking capacity (35A versus 100A), and melting I²t (23.25 versus 13). These parts are suitable only when slow-blow characteristics are acceptable.

Voltage-Reduced Alternatives (Littelfuse Series): Parts 023302.5MXBP and 023302.5MXP operate at 125 V AC instead of 250 V AC. These are not direct substitutes for 250 V applications but may be considered for lower-voltage circuits with identical current and package requirements.

Parameter Comparison

Part Number	Manufacturer	Current Rating (A)	Voltage Rating - AC (V)	Response Time	Package / Case	Breaking Capacity @ Rated Voltage (A)	Melting I²t	DC Cold Resistance (Ohms)	Product Status	RoHS Status
BK/GMC-2.5A	Eaton	2.5	250	Medium Blow	5mm x 20mm	100	13	0.035	Obsolete	RoHS non-compliant
BK/GMC-2.5-R	Eaton	2.5	250	Medium Blow	5mm x 20mm	100	13	0.035	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
BK1/GMC-2.5-R	Eaton	2.5	250	Medium Blow	5mm x 20mm	100	13	0.035	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
GMC-2.5-R	Eaton	2.5	250	Medium Blow	5mm x 20mm	100	13	0.035	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
023202.5MXP	Littelfuse	2.5	250	Medium Blow	5mm x 20mm	100	13.875	0.0291	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
023402.5MXBP	Littelfuse	2.5	250	Medium Blow	5mm x 20mm	100	17.045	0.0521	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
023402.5MXP	Littelfuse	2.5	250	Medium Blow	5mm x 20mm	100	17.045	0.0521	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
021802.5HXP	Littelfuse	2.5	250	Slow Blow	5mm x 20mm	35	23.25	0.0219	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
021802.5TXP	Littelfuse	2.5	250	Slow Blow	5mm x 20mm	35	23.25	0.0219	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
023302.5MXP	Littelfuse	2.5	125	Medium Blow	5mm x 20mm	10000	17.045	0.0521	Active	ROHS3 Compliant

Engineering Selection Recommendations

For Direct Replacement (Identical Electrical Performance): Select BK/GMC-2.5-R, BK1/GMC-2.5-R, or GMC-2.5-R from Eaton. These parts provide exact electrical equivalence to the BK/GMC-2.5A with identical current rating, voltage rating, response time, breaking capacity, melting I²t, and DC cold resistance. All three are active products with RoHS3 compliance, addressing the obsolescence and compliance limitations of the original part. Approval agencies include CSA, KC-MARK, MITI, and UL.

For Littelfuse Alternatives (250 V AC, Medium Blow): Parts 023202.5MXP, 023402.5MXBP, and 023402.5MXP maintain the critical 2.5 A, 250 V AC, medium blow, 100A breaking capacity specifications. These parts are suitable when Littelfuse certification is required or preferred. Melting I²t and DC cold resistance vary slightly from the original specification. All are RoHS3 compliant and active products with CE, CSA, K-MARK, PSE, and UL certifications.

For Slow-Blow Applications (If Circuit Design Permits): Parts 021802.5HXP and 021802.5TXP are Littelfuse slow-blow alternatives with identical current and voltage ratings. These parts are suitable only when the application circuit is designed to tolerate slow-blow response characteristics. Breaking capacity is reduced to 35A, and melting I²t is increased to 23.25. Both are RoHS3 compliant with extended approval agency coverage including CCC, CE, CSA, K-MARK, PSE, SEMKO, UL, and VDE.

For Lower-Voltage Circuits (125 V AC Only): Parts 023302.5MXP and 023302.5MXBP operate at 125 V AC and are not suitable for 250 V AC applications. These parts are applicable only to circuits designed for 125 V AC operation with identical 2.5 A current rating and 5mm x 20mm package.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can BK/GMC-2.5-R be used as a direct replacement for BK/GMC-2.5A? A: Yes. BK/GMC-2.5-R is a direct electrical equivalent with identical current rating (2.5 A), voltage rating (250 V AC), response time (medium blow), breaking capacity (100A), melting I²t (13), and DC cold resistance (0.035 Ohms). The primary difference is product status: BK/GMC-2.5-R is active and RoHS3 compliant, whereas BK/GMC-2.5A is obsolete and RoHS non-compliant.

Q: What is the difference between BK/GMC-2.5-R, BK1/GMC-2.5-R, and GMC-2.5-R? A: All three are Eaton GMC series fuses with identical electrical specifications and active product status. The designations reflect different part numbering conventions within the Eaton product line. All are RoHS3 compliant and suitable for direct replacement of the BK/GMC-2.5A.

Q: Can Littelfuse 023402.5MXP be used instead of Eaton BK/GMC-2.5-R? A: Yes, with minor parameter variations. Both maintain 2.5 A, 250 V AC, medium blow response, 100A breaking capacity, and 5mm x 20mm package. The Littelfuse part has a melting I²t of 17.045 (versus 13 for Eaton) and DC cold resistance of 0.0521 Ohms (versus 0.035 Ohms). These variations are within acceptable parametric equivalence for most applications. Certification agencies differ: Littelfuse 023402.5MXP carries CE, CSA, K-MARK, PSE, and UL approvals.

Q: Why should I avoid 021802.5HXP as a substitute? A: Part 021802.5HXP is a slow-blow fuse, whereas the BK/GMC-2.5A is medium blow. Slow-blow fuses tolerate higher inrush currents and are designed for different circuit protection profiles. Additionally, 021802.5HXP has a breaking capacity of 35A (versus 100A for the original) and melting I²t of 23.25 (versus 13). Use this part only if the circuit design explicitly requires slow-blow characteristics.

Q: Are all substitute parts RoHS3 compliant? A: Yes. All active substitute parts listed (BK/GMC-2.5-R, BK1/GMC-2.5-R, GMC-2.5-R, 023202.5MXP, 023402.5MXBP, 023402.5MXP, 021802.5HXP, and 021802.5TXP) are RoHS3 compliant. The original BK/GMC-2.5A is RoHS non-compliant.

Q: Can 023302.5MXP replace BK/GMC-2.5A in a 250 V AC circuit? A: No. Part 023302.5MXP is rated for 125 V AC maximum, whereas the BK/GMC-2.5A is rated for 250 V AC. Using a 125 V AC fuse in a 250 V AC circuit creates a safety hazard and violates electrical design standards. This part is suitable only for 125 V AC applications.

Q: What approval agencies certify the substitute parts? A: Eaton GMC series parts (BK/GMC-2.5-R, BK1/GMC-2.5-R, GMC-2.5-R) carry CSA, KC-MARK, MITI, and UL approvals. Littelfuse parts carry varying combinations including CE, CSA, K-MARK, PSE, SEMKO, UL, and VDE. Select parts based on required certifications for your application region.

Q: Do all substitute parts fit the same 5mm x 20mm holder? A: Yes. All substitute parts listed maintain the 5mm x 20mm package specification and are mechanically compatible with holders designed for the BK/GMC-2.5A.

Q: What is the inventory status of substitute parts? A: All substitute parts are active products with current inventory availability. BK/GMC-2.5-R has 1297 units in stock, BK1/GMC-2.5-R has 997 units, GMC-2.5-R has 723 units, and Littelfuse alternatives range from 880 to 4084 units in stock.

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