Tricon diode protects vital vehicle systems

DETROIT, March 4, 2002 — Tricon Industries, Inc. is producing encapsulated diodes for voltage suppression, appearing on several vehicle platforms throughout North America. The diodes protect increasingly complex automotive circuitry from voltage surges caused by the additional power demands of new electronic components and systems.

"Today's vehicles present a double-edged challenge. There are a growing number of power hungry electric motors and gadgets within the vehicle that are causing more voltage spikes," said Jeff Terrell, Tricon manager of product development. "On the other hand, vehicles also have more sensitive electronic features like telematic navigation systems and advanced safety electronics that can be severely damaged by power spikes. This raises the importance of reliable surge suppression provided by Tricon's diodes."

If a voltage spike reaches the battery, it can travel throughout the vehicle's electrical system, ruining sensitive solid-state components. Diodes prevent electrical surges by allowing voltage to flow in only one direction.

The diodes are simply plugged into the fuse block, next to the fuses, to safeguard the circuits from surges. The diodes' design has a fool-proofing feature, making it impossible to plug them in incorrectly, preventing faulty connections. This feature ensures consistent and reliable diode orientation in even the most complex electrical assemblies. As is the case for all Tricon products, the diodes are manufactured in QS-9000 certified facilities, further increasing their reliability.

In addition to being extremely robust, the versatile diode design can be easily customized to change the voltage ratings to meet specific customer requirements. The diodes also can be added into the fuse block to address voltage issues after the vehicle design is complete, or even while the vehicle is in production.

Tricon Industries, Inc. specializes in insert molding and specialized components for worldwide automotive, mobile communications and appliance markets. Tricon was one of the first in the industry to use insert-molding techniques for the manufacture of switch and relay components as well as other electrically-oriented parts.

Some of Tricon's recent projects include complex insert molded junction blocks and multifunction switch components, sealed bulb taillight sockets and circuit stampings, single-bulb light sockets, alternators and encapsulated components, and mobile antenna assemblies. Today, Tricon is a QS-9000/ISO 9001-registered manufacturer both in the United States and Europe, with comprehensive design, project management and manufacturing capabilities that can be tailored to specific project requirements.

For more information, see us at the SAE 2002 World Congress in booth #129, or visit us on the Internet at www.triconinc.com.