GSA 3-R Ceramic Fuse Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The GSA 3-R is a 3 A, 250 V AC ceramic cartridge fuse manufactured by Bel Fuse Inc. This slow-blow fuse is designed for applications requiring overcurrent protection in AC circuits and operates across a temperature range of -55°C to 125°C. The part is currently active in production with full inventory availability. Equivalent and substitute parts are identified to support procurement flexibility, supply chain continuity, and application-specific requirements where alternative certifications or DC voltage ratings may be beneficial.

Substiute Parts

GSA 3-R

Bel Fuse Inc.In Stock: 1351GSA 3-R Datasheet

Current PartRFQ

0326003.MXP

Littelfuse Inc.In Stock: 14480326003.MXP Datasheet

DirectRFQ

TCA-3A

OptiFuseIn Stock: 3618TCA-3A Datasheet

Parametric EquivalentRFQ

Key Parameters

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitute parts for the GSA 3-R are qualified based on the following critical parameters:

• Current Rating: 3 A (exact match required)
• Voltage Rating - AC: 250 V (exact match required)
• Fuse Type: Cartridge, Ceramic (exact match required)
• Response Time: Slow Blow (exact match required)
• Package / Case: 3AB, 3AG, 1/4" x 1-1/4" (exact match required)
• Operating Temperature Range: -55°C to 125°C (minimum requirement)
• RoHS Compliance: ROHS3 Compliant (regulatory requirement)

Two substitute parts meet these criteria: the 0326003.MXP from Littelfuse Inc. and the TCA-3A from OptiFuse. Both parts maintain identical AC voltage and current ratings, ceramic cartridge construction, slow-blow response characteristics, and compatible mechanical dimensions. Differences in DC voltage ratings, breaking capacity specifications, and approval agencies do not affect AC-only applications but may provide additional capability for dual-voltage or enhanced protection scenarios.

Parameter Comparison

Engineering Selection Recommendations

All three parts—GSA 3-R, 0326003.MXP, and TCA-3A—are active products with full regulatory compliance and RoHS3 certification. Selection between these parts should be based on the following factors:

GSA 3-R (Bel Fuse Inc.): Suitable for applications requiring CE, CSA, cURus, and PSE certifications. Provides 100 A breaking capacity at rated voltage with a melting I²t of 146.

0326003.MXP (Littelfuse Inc.): Offers extended certification coverage including K-MARK and UL approval. Includes 125 V DC voltage rating, providing dual-voltage capability for mixed AC/DC circuit protection. Breaking capacity extends to 10 kA DC. Melting I²t of 200 provides slightly higher thermal energy tolerance. Mechanical dimensions are within tolerance (0.250" x 1.250" L versus 1.252" L).

TCA-3A (OptiFuse): Provides cULus and UL 248 certification. Mechanical dimensions match GSA 3-R exactly (0.250" x 1.252" L). Suitable for applications prioritizing UL compliance.

For AC-only applications, all three parts are electrically equivalent. For applications requiring DC voltage protection or enhanced breaking capacity, the 0326003.MXP is the preferred substitute. For applications requiring specific UL certification, the TCA-3A is the appropriate selection.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can the 0326003.MXP be used as a direct replacement for the GSA 3-R in AC circuits?

A: Yes. Both parts share identical AC voltage (250 V) and current (3 A) ratings, ceramic cartridge construction, slow-blow response, and compatible 3AB/3AG package dimensions. The 0326003.MXP includes additional DC voltage capability (125 V) and enhanced breaking capacity (10 kA DC), which do not affect AC-only operation.

Q: What is the significance of the melting I²t difference between GSA 3-R (146) and 0326003.MXP (200)?

A: Melting I²t represents the thermal energy required to melt the fuse element. The higher value (200) in the 0326003.MXP indicates greater thermal energy tolerance before fuse operation. This difference may affect response time in edge-case overcurrent scenarios but does not impact compatibility for standard AC circuit protection at 3 A, 250 V.

Q: Are the mechanical dimension differences between parts significant?

A: The GSA 3-R and TCA-3A are dimensionally identical (0.250" Dia x 1.252" L). The 0326003.MXP has a length of 1.250" L, a difference of 0.002" (0.05mm). This variation is within standard mechanical tolerance for 3AB/3AG cartridge fuses and does not affect holder compatibility.

Q: Which substitute part should be selected for applications requiring both AC and DC protection?

A: The 0326003.MXP is the only substitute part with specified DC voltage rating (125 V DC). This part is suitable for applications requiring dual-voltage protection capability.

Q: Are all three parts RoHS3 compliant?

A: Yes. GSA 3-R, 0326003.MXP, and TCA-3A are all ROHS3 compliant and suitable for applications with RoHS regulatory requirements.

Q: What approval agencies are common to all three parts?

A: CE and PSE certifications are common to all three parts. GSA 3-R and 0326003.MXP both include CSA approval. For UL-specific applications, TCA-3A (cULus, UL 248) and 0326003.MXP (UL) are both qualified.