MF-RG500-2 Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The MF-RG500-2 is a polymeric PTC resettable fuse manufactured by Bourns Inc. in the Multifuse® MF-RG series. This through-hole radial disc component provides overcurrent protection at 16V with a 5A hold current rating. The part is active in production with 1381 units in current inventory stock. Equivalent and substitute parts are identified to support procurement flexibility, inventory management, and supply chain continuity for applications requiring polymeric PTC resettable fuse protection in this electrical specification range.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value
Voltage - Max	16V
Current - Hold (Ih) (Max)	5 A
Current - Trip (It)	8.5 A
Current - Max	100 A
Time to Trip	2 s
Resistance - Initial (Ri) (Min)	15 mOhms
Resistance - Post Trip (R1) (Max)	34 mOhms
Operating Temperature	-40°C ~ 85°C
Mounting Type	Through Hole
Package / Case	Radial, Disc
Lead Spacing	0.201" (5.10mm)
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitute parts for the MF-RG500-2 are classified based on electrical parameter equivalence and mechanical compatibility. The primary substitution criteria are:

Parametric Equivalents maintain identical electrical specifications: 16V maximum voltage, 5A hold current, 8.5A trip current, 2 second trip time, 15 mOhms initial resistance, and 34 mOhms post-trip resistance. These parts are mechanically and electrically interchangeable within the same circuit design.

Similar Substitutes share the same voltage rating (16V) and mounting configuration (through-hole radial disc) but differ in current-handling specifications. These parts require circuit design verification to confirm suitability for the intended application.

The MF-RG500-2 is compatible with parts meeting these criteria from alternative manufacturers including Littelfuse Inc., provided that the electrical parameters fall within the specified ranges and the through-hole radial disc package format is maintained.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	MF-RG500-2 (Bourns)	RGEF500 (Littelfuse)	16R500GPR (Littelfuse)	RGEF300-2 (Littelfuse)
Voltage - Max	16V	16V	16V	16V
Current - Hold (Ih) (Max)	5 A	5 A	5 A	3 A
Current - Trip (It)	8.5 A	8.5 A	8.5 A	5.1 A
Current - Max	100 A	100 A	100 A	100 A
Time to Trip	2 s	2 s	2 s	1 s
Resistance - Initial (Ri) (Min)	15 mOhms	15 mOhms	15 mOhms	38 mOhms
Resistance - Post Trip (R1) (Max)	34 mOhms	34 mOhms	34 mOhms	97.5 mOhms
Operating Temperature	-40°C ~ 85°C	-40°C ~ 85°C	-40°C ~ 85°C	-40°C ~ 85°C
Mounting Type	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole
Package / Case	Radial, Disc	Radial, Disc	Radial, Disc	Radial, Disc
Lead Spacing	0.201" (5.10mm)	0.199" (5.05mm)	0.201" (5.10mm)	0.199" (5.05mm)
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant

Engineering Selection Recommendations

Direct Parametric Equivalents: The 16R500GPR (Littelfuse POLY-FUSE® 16R series) and RGEF500 (Littelfuse PolySwitch® RGEF series) are parametric equivalents to the MF-RG500-2. Both maintain identical electrical specifications across voltage, current hold, trip current, trip time, and resistance parameters. Both are ROHS3 compliant and active in production status. The 16R500GPR carries cURus and TUV certifications, while the RGEF500 carries CSA, TUV, and UL certifications. Lead spacing differences (0.201" vs. 0.199") are within standard PCB tolerance ranges for through-hole radial disc components.

Similar Substitute: The RGEF300-2 (Littelfuse PolySwitch® RGEF series) shares the same voltage rating and mounting configuration but operates at 3A hold current with 5.1A trip current and 1 second trip time. This part is suitable only for applications where the lower current specifications are acceptable. The RGEF300-2 carries CSA, TUV, and UL certifications and is ROHS3 compliant.

All substitute parts are active in production with confirmed inventory availability. Selection should be based on application current requirements, required certifications, and PCB layout constraints.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can RGEF500 replace MF-RG500-2 directly in my circuit? A: Yes. The RGEF500 maintains identical electrical parameters: 16V voltage rating, 5A hold current, 8.5A trip current, 2 second trip time, and equivalent resistance specifications. Both are through-hole radial disc packages with compatible lead spacing (0.199" vs. 0.201"). Packaging differs (Bag vs. Cut Tape), but electrical performance is equivalent.

Q: What is the difference between 16R500GPR and RGEF500? A: Both are parametric equivalents with identical electrical specifications. The primary differences are manufacturer series designation (POLY-FUSE® 16R vs. PolySwitch® RGEF) and certifications (16R500GPR: cURus, TUV; RGEF500: CSA, TUV, UL). Electrical performance and through-hole radial disc package format are equivalent.

Q: Can I use RGEF300-2 instead of MF-RG500-2? A: RGEF300-2 is not a direct equivalent. It operates at 3A hold current versus 5A, with 5.1A trip current versus 8.5A, and 1 second trip time versus 2 seconds. Use RGEF300-2 only if your application requires lower current protection thresholds. Higher current applications require the 5A rated parts.

Q: Are all substitute parts ROHS3 compliant? A: Yes. MF-RG500-2, RGEF500, 16R500GPR, and RGEF300-2 are all ROHS3 compliant and REACH unaffected.

Q: What certifications should I verify for my application? A: MF-RG500-2 does not list specific approval agencies. RGEF500 carries CSA, TUV, and UL certifications. 16R500GPR carries cURus and TUV certifications. RGEF300-2 carries CSA, TUV, and UL certifications. Verify that the selected part's certifications meet your application and regional requirements.

Q: Does packaging type affect electrical performance? A: No. MF-RG500-2 is supplied in Cut Tape (CT) packaging, RGEF500 in Bag, and 16R500GPR in Cut Tape (CT). Packaging affects handling and storage logistics but does not alter electrical specifications or performance.

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