BK/S506-5A Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The BK/S506-5A is a 5 A, 250 V AC/DC glass cartridge fuse with a 5mm x 20mm form factor manufactured by Eaton - Electronics Division. This component is classified as obsolete, requiring identification of active equivalent and substitute parts for ongoing system support and procurement.

Glass cartridge fuses in the 5 A, 250 V rating are widely used in industrial control circuits, power distribution equipment, and consumer electronics. The obsolete status of the BK/S506-5A necessitates sourcing from active product lines that maintain electrical and mechanical compatibility with existing fuse holders and circuit requirements.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value
Current Rating	5 A
Voltage Rating (AC)	250 V
Fuse Type	Cartridge, Glass
Package / Case	5mm x 20mm
Response Time	Slow Blow
Breaking Capacity @ Rated Voltage	50 A
Mounting Type	Requires Holder
Size / Dimension	0.205" Dia x 0.787" L (5.20mm x 20.00mm)

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution of the BK/S506-5A is determined by strict equivalence across the following critical parameters:

Mandatory Equivalence Criteria:

Current Rating: 5 A
Voltage Rating (AC): 250 V
Fuse Type: Cartridge, Glass
Package / Case: 5mm x 20mm
Response Time: Slow Blow
Breaking Capacity @ Rated Voltage: 50 A
Mounting Type: Requires Holder

Substitute parts are grouped into two categories:

Direct Manufacturer Equivalents (Eaton - Electronics Division): Parts BK/S506-5-R, BK/GDC-5A, GDC-5A, and S506-5-R are manufactured by Eaton and maintain identical electrical and mechanical specifications. These parts differ primarily in product status (active versus obsolete) and compliance certifications.

Cross-Manufacturer Equivalents: Parts from Littelfuse Inc. (0213005.MXP, 0218005.MXP, 0213005.MXBP, 0213005.TXP) and SCHURTER Inc. (0034.3124, 0034.5624.11) meet all mandatory equivalence criteria while offering active product status and enhanced compliance certifications.

Parameter Comparison

Part Number	Manufacturer	Current Rating (A)	Voltage Rating (V AC)	Response Time	Package	Breaking Capacity (A)	Product Status	RoHS Status
BK/S506-5A	Eaton	5	250	Slow Blow	5x20mm	50	Obsolete	Non-compliant
BK/S506-5-R	Eaton	5	250	Slow Blow	5x20mm	50	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
BK/GDC-5A	Eaton	5	250	Slow Blow	5x20mm	50	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
GDC-5A	Eaton	5	250	Slow Blow	5x20mm	50	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
S506-5-R	Eaton	5	250	Slow Blow	5x20mm	50	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
0034.3124	SCHURTER Inc.	5	250	Slow Blow	5x20mm	50	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
0213005.MXP	Littelfuse Inc.	5	250	Slow Blow	5x20mm	50	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
0218005.MXP	Littelfuse Inc.	5	250	Slow Blow	5x20mm	50	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
0034.5624.11	SCHURTER Inc.	5	250	Slow Blow	5x20mm	50	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
0213005.MXBP	Littelfuse Inc.	5	250	Slow Blow	5x20mm	50	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
0213005.TXP	Littelfuse Inc.	5	250	Slow Blow	5x20mm	50	Active	ROHS3 Compliant

Engineering Selection Recommendations

Primary Selection - Eaton Direct Equivalents:

BK/S506-5-R, BK/GDC-5A, GDC-5A, and S506-5-R are the preferred substitutes for BK/S506-5A. These parts are manufactured by the original equipment manufacturer and maintain full electrical and mechanical compatibility. All four parts are active products with ROHS3 compliance, addressing the non-compliance status of the obsolete BK/S506-5A. BK/S506-5-R and S506-5-R carry the broadest approval agency certifications (BSI, CCC, CSA, CURUS, IMQ, PSE/JET, SEMKO, VDE), making them suitable for applications requiring multiple regional compliance standards.

Secondary Selection - Cross-Manufacturer Equivalents:

When Eaton direct equivalents are unavailable, cross-manufacturer alternatives from Littelfuse Inc. and SCHURTER Inc. provide full electrical and mechanical substitution. Littelfuse 0213005.MXP, 0218005.MXP, 0213005.MXBP, and 0213005.TXP are active products with ROHS3 compliance and extensive approval agency certifications (BSI, CCC, CE, CSA, PSE, SEMKO, UR, VDE). SCHURTER 0034.3124 and 0034.5624.11 are active products with ROHS3 compliance and specified operating temperature ranges (-55°C to 125°C).

Compliance Considerations:

The BK/S506-5A is RoHS non-compliant. All substitute parts listed are ROHS3 compliant, meeting current environmental and regulatory requirements. Applications subject to REACH regulations should specify parts with REACH Unaffected status, which includes all Littelfuse and SCHURTER alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can BK/S506-5A be directly replaced with BK/S506-5-R?

A: Yes. BK/S506-5-R is a direct equivalent manufactured by Eaton with identical electrical specifications (5 A, 250 V AC/DC, slow blow, 5x20mm). The primary difference is product status: BK/S506-5-R is active while BK/S506-5A is obsolete. Both require the same fuse holder.

Q: What is the difference between Eaton GDC-5A and S506-5-R?

A: Both are Eaton 5 A, 250 V AC/DC slow blow fuses in 5x20mm packages. GDC-5A belongs to the GDC series with approval agencies cULus, IMQ, MITI/JET. S506-5-R belongs to the S506 series with broader approval agencies (BSI, CCC, CSA, CURUS, IMQ, PSE/JET, SEMKO, VDE). Selection depends on regional compliance requirements.

Q: Are Littelfuse and SCHURTER fuses compatible with existing Eaton fuse holders?

A: Yes. All substitute parts maintain the identical 5mm x 20mm form factor and cartridge glass construction, ensuring mechanical compatibility with standard 5x20mm fuse holders. Electrical specifications (5 A, 250 V AC/DC, slow blow, 50 A breaking capacity) are equivalent across all listed parts.

Q: What is the significance of melting I²t values in the parameter comparison?

A: Melting I²t indicates the thermal energy required to melt the fuse element. The BK/S506-5A has a melting I²t of 150, while most active substitutes range from 102 to 314. These variations reflect different fuse element designs but do not affect compatibility within the 5 A, 250 V, slow blow classification. All parts meet the 50 A breaking capacity requirement.

Q: Which substitute part has the highest inventory availability?

A: Littelfuse 0218005.MXP has the highest inventory with 42,700 pieces in stock, followed by SCHURTER 0034.3124 with 7,707 pieces. Eaton BK/S506-5-R has 2,707 pieces available.

Q: Are all substitute parts RoHS compliant?

A: Yes. All listed substitute parts are ROHS3 compliant. The original BK/S506-5A is RoHS non-compliant. Substitution with any listed part addresses RoHS compliance requirements.

Q: What approval agencies are common across all substitute parts?

A: CCC and VDE certifications are present across all substitute parts. For applications requiring broader regional compliance, Littelfuse parts include BSI, CCC, CE, CSA, PSE, SEMKO, UR, and VDE certifications.

Q: Can slow blow fuses be substituted with fast blow fuses?

A: No. The BK/S506-5A is specified as slow blow. All listed substitutes maintain slow blow response time. Fast blow fuses have different thermal characteristics and would alter circuit protection behavior.

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