Why Surge Protection is Critical in Automotive Applications
NexTek provides surge protection and power filtering solutions for various projects in the Automotive industry. Along with standard RF coaxial surge and EMI filter products, custom automotive solutions are co-developed with OEMs and NexTek engineers.
Whether the requirements call for power filters for use on electric/hybrid vehicles or surge protection for a vehicle-based radio or GPS system, all NexTek products utilize first class materials and a rugged design. This makes them perfectly suited to meet the extreme environmental requirements often found in automotive applications.
With compact form factors available in both product ranges, NexTek coaxial lightning protectors and feedthrough power filters are perfectly suited to meet your EMC compliance needs for any vehicular project.
Key Automotive Protection Components
Modern vehicles integrate multiple electronic subsystems, each with distinct protection needs. NexTek solutions are designed to address both conducted and radiated disturbances across power and RF signal paths.
Feedthrough Power Filters
Provide effective attenuation of conducted EMI on DC power lines. These filters support stable operation of ECUs, sensors, and control modules in electrically noisy environments.
Coaxial Surge Protectors
Protect RF systems such as GPS, telematics, and vehicle communication modules from lightning-induced surges and ESD events. Designed to maintain low insertion loss and signal integrity.
Transient Voltage Suppression (TVS) Integration
Used to clamp fast transients on power lines. Supports protection against load dump and switching spikes common in automotive systems.
Hybrid Protection Architectures
Combine filtering and surge suppression into a single solution. This approach reduces footprint while improving overall system resilience.
These components are engineered for compact integration and consistent performance across temperature, vibration, and lifecycle stress conditions.
Automotive Core Surge Threats
Automotive electronics operate in environments with frequent electrical transients. Protection strategies must account for both predictable and random surge events.
Load Dump Events
Occurs when the battery is disconnected while the alternator is charging. This can generate high transients capable of damaging sensitive electronics.
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
Generated through human interaction or environmental exposure. Affects exposed interfaces such as antennas and connectors.
Inductive Switching Transients
Created by motors, relays, and solenoids. These fast spikes can propagate through vehicle power networks.
Lightning-Induced Surges
Relevant for externally mounted RF systems such as antennas. Surges can couple into coaxial lines and damage front-end equipment.
Recommended Applications
Automotive surge protection is required across a wide range of vehicle systems, where both power and signal integrity are critical.
Telematics and Connectivity Modules
Protects LTE, 5G, GPS, and V2X communication systems.
Infotainment Systems
Ensures stable operation of displays, media units, and user interfaces.
Electric and Hybrid Powertrains
Supports inverters, battery management systems (BMS), and onboard chargers.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
Protects radar, cameras, and sensor fusion platforms.
Vehicle-Based Radio Systems
Maintains RF performance in emergency, fleet, and commercial communication systems.
Charging Infrastructure Interfaces
Provides protection for onboard and external charging connections.
These applications require solutions that maintain performance under vibration, temperature cycling, and continuous electrical stress.
Recommended Products
NexTek offers a focused portfolio designed for automotive environments, combining rugged construction with consistent electrical performance.
Coaxial Lightning Protectors
Feedthrough Power Filters
The FSF Series and the HPR Series provides high-performance EMI filtering for DC power lines in compact form factors.
Custom Integrated Assemblies
Application-specific solutions built from FTF, PTR, and PTC platforms to combine filtering and surge protection.
High-Reliability Configurations
Available across QWS, PTR, PTC, and FTF series with materials and designs suited for harsh automotive environments.
All products are built to support EMC compliance and maintain signal integrity across evolving vehicle platforms.
Related Information
EMC/EMI Filters Catalog
Comprehensive overview of feedthrough filters and EMI suppression solutions, including performance specifications and configuration options for automotive systems.
Coaxial Surge Protection Selection Guide
Covers key criteria for selecting RF surge protectors, including frequency range, power handling, and environmental considerations.
Common Standards
EMI:
- SAE J551 & J1113
- IEC 2005/49/EC
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