GDC-2.5A Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The GDC-2.5A is a 2.5 A 250 V AC/DC slow-blow glass cartridge fuse in a 5mm x 20mm package manufactured by Eaton - Electronics Division. This fuse is designed for applications requiring overcurrent protection in low-voltage circuits and requires a compatible fuse holder for installation. The part is currently active in production with 922 pieces in stock. Substitute parts are identified based on matching electrical characteristics, mechanical dimensions, and functional performance parameters to ensure direct interchangeability in circuit protection applications.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value
Current Rating	2.5 A
Voltage Rating (AC)	250 V
Fuse Type	Cartridge, Glass
Response Time	Slow Blow
Package / Case	5mm x 20mm
Mounting Type	Requires Holder
Breaking Capacity @ Rated Voltage	35 A
Size / Dimension	0.205" Dia x 0.787" L (5.20mm x 20.00mm)
Product Status	Active

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitute parts for the GDC-2.5A are grouped based on strict equivalence of the following critical parameters:

Primary Equivalence Criteria:

Current Rating: 2.5 A
Voltage Rating (AC): 250 V
Fuse Type: Cartridge, Glass
Response Time: Slow Blow
Package / Case: 5mm x 20mm
Mounting Type: Requires Holder

Secondary Consideration Parameters:

Breaking Capacity @ Rated Voltage
Melting I²t
DC Cold Resistance
Approval Agency certifications
RoHS and REACH compliance status

Parts are classified as parametric equivalents when all primary criteria match. Variations in breaking capacity, melting I²t, or DC cold resistance do not preclude substitution provided the primary electrical and mechanical parameters remain identical. All substitute parts listed maintain the same 5mm x 20mm form factor and 2.5 A / 250 V electrical specification.

Parameter Comparison

Manufacturer Part Number	Manufacturer	Current Rating (A)	Voltage Rating (V AC)	Response Time	Package	Breaking Capacity (A)	Melting I²t	DC Cold Resistance (Ohms)	Product Status
GDC-2.5A	Eaton - Electronics Division	2.5	250	Slow Blow	5mm x 20mm	35	59.4	0.0255	Active
BK/GDC-2.5A	Eaton - Electronics Division	2.5	250	Slow Blow	5mm x 20mm	35	59.4	0.0255	Active
BK/GMD-2.5-R	Eaton - Electronics Division	2.5	250	Slow Blow	5mm x 20mm	100	94	0.0905	Active
BK/S506-2.5-R	Eaton - Electronics Division	2.5	250	Slow Blow	5mm x 20mm	35	59.4	0.0255	Active
BK1/S506-2.5-R	Eaton - Electronics Division	2.5	250	Slow Blow	5mm x 20mm	35	59.4	0.0255	Active
S506-2.5-R	Eaton - Electronics Division	2.5	250	Slow Blow	5mm x 20mm	35	59.4	0.0255	Active
021302.5MXP	Littelfuse Inc.	2.5	250	Slow Blow	5mm x 20mm	35	138	0.0305	Active
0034.3121	SCHURTER Inc.	2.5	250	Slow Blow	5mm x 20mm	35	21.9	Not Provided	Active
0034.3780	SCHURTER Inc.	2.5	250	Slow Blow	5mm x 20mm	100	9.45	Not Provided	Active
0034.5047	SCHURTER Inc.	2.5	250	Slow Blow	5mm x 20mm	35	258	Not Provided	Active
0034.5621.11	SCHURTER Inc.	2.5	250	Slow Blow	5mm x 20mm	35	21.9	Not Provided	Active

Engineering Selection Recommendations

All listed substitute parts maintain active product status and are manufactured by established component suppliers: Eaton - Electronics Division, Littelfuse Inc., and SCHURTER Inc. Selection among equivalent parts should be based on the following factors:

Certification Alignment: The GDC-2.5A carries approvals from cURus, IMQ, and MITI/JET. Substitute parts from Eaton (BK/GDC-2.5A, BK/S506-2.5-R, BK1/S506-2.5-R, S506-2.5-R) maintain overlapping certification coverage. The Littelfuse 021302.5MXP carries broader international certifications including BSI, CCC, CE, CSA, PSE, SEMKO, UR, and VDE. SCHURTER parts (0034.3121, 0034.3780, 0034.5047, 0034.5621.11) provide additional certification options including VDE and CCC.

RoHS and REACH Compliance: All substitute parts except the original GDC-2.5A are explicitly marked as ROHS3 Compliant. Parts from Littelfuse and SCHURTER are REACH Unaffected. Eaton substitute parts show REACH Unaffected status where specified.

Breaking Capacity Variation: Parts with 100 A breaking capacity (BK/GMD-2.5-R and 0034.3780) provide enhanced fault current handling compared to the 35 A baseline. These are suitable for applications with higher available fault currents.

Melting I²t Variation: Melting I²t values range from 9.45 to 258 across the substitute list. Lower values indicate faster thermal response; higher values indicate slower thermal response. Selection should align with application-specific inrush current and thermal time constant requirements.

Temperature Operating Range: The Littelfuse 021302.5MXP operates across -55°C to 125°C. SCHURTER parts 0034.3121 and 0034.5621.11 operate across -55°C to 125°C. SCHURTER parts 0034.3780 and 0034.5047 operate across -40°C to 85°C. The original GDC-2.5A does not specify an operating temperature range.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can BK/GMD-2.5-R be used as a direct substitute for GDC-2.5A?

A: BK/GMD-2.5-R is a parametric equivalent with identical current rating (2.5 A), voltage rating (250 V), response time (slow blow), and package dimensions (5mm x 20mm). The primary difference is an increased breaking capacity of 100 A versus 35 A on the original part. This substitution is valid for applications where the higher breaking capacity does not create unintended circuit behavior.

Q: What is the significance of melting I²t differences among substitute parts?

A: Melting I²t is a thermal energy parameter that characterizes fuse response time under fault conditions. The GDC-2.5A has a melting I²t of 59.4. Substitute parts range from 9.45 (0034.3780) to 258 (0034.5047). Lower melting I²t values result in faster fuse operation; higher values result in slower operation. Selection must align with the application's inrush current profile and protection coordination requirements.

Q: Are all substitute parts available in the same 5mm x 20mm package?

A: Yes. All substitute parts listed are specified with a 5mm x 20mm package dimension (0.205" Dia x 0.787" L). All parts require a compatible fuse holder for installation. Physical interchangeability is confirmed across all listed substitutes.

Q: Which substitute part has the broadest international certification coverage?

A: The Littelfuse 021302.5MXP carries certifications from BSI, CCC, CE, CSA, PSE, SEMKO, UR, and VDE. This represents the widest certification scope among the listed substitutes and is suitable for applications requiring multi-regional compliance documentation.

Q: Can SCHURTER 0034.3780 be used in place of GDC-2.5A?

A: SCHURTER 0034.3780 matches the primary electrical parameters (2.5 A, 250 V, slow blow, 5mm x 20mm). However, it has a breaking capacity of 100 A versus 35 A on the GDC-2.5A, and a significantly lower melting I²t of 9.45 versus 59.4. This part operates at a faster thermal response and is suitable only for applications where rapid fuse operation is required and compatible with the circuit design.

Q: What is the difference between Eaton S506 series variants (BK/S506-2.5-R, BK1/S506-2.5-R, S506-2.5-R)?

A: All three S506 variants share identical electrical specifications (2.5 A, 250 V, slow blow, 5mm x 20mm, 35 A breaking capacity, 59.4 melting I²t, 0.0255 Ohms DC cold resistance). The prefix designations (BK, BK1, or no prefix) represent internal Eaton product line classifications. All three are parametric equivalents to GDC-2.5A with no functional difference.

Q: Is DC voltage operation supported by these fuse specifications?

A: The specifications list voltage rating as 250 V AC with DC cold resistance values provided. The detailed descriptions state "2.5 A 250 V AC DC Fuse Cartridge," indicating dual AC/DC capability. However, DC voltage operation should be confirmed against the specific application requirements and fuse holder design.

Q: Which substitute part offers the lowest DC cold resistance?

A: The GDC-2.5A and all Eaton S506 variants (BK/S506-2.5-R, BK1/S506-2.5-R, S506-2.5-R) have a DC cold resistance of 0.0255 Ohms. The Littelfuse 021302.5MXP has 0.0305 Ohms. SCHURTER parts do not provide DC cold resistance specifications in the available data.

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