When choosing components for an automotive application, you may find yourself asking “Does every component I use in my automotive product need AEC-Q200 qualification ?”. The answer is “no”.
AEC-Q200 is the global standard for stress resistance that all passive electronic components must meet if these components are going to be used in an automotive application. Passive components include devices such as Chip Resistors, Through Hole Resistors, Resistor Arrays, Ceramic Capacitors, Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors, Fixed Inductors, NTC Thermistors, PTC Thermistors, Resistance Temperature Detectors, Current Sense Transformers, Pulse Transformers, Real Time Clocks, TVS Devicess, PTC Resettable Fuses and so on.
These parts are only deemed to be “AEC-Q200 qualified” if they have passed the stringent suite of stress tests contained within the standard. AEC-Q200 has five different grades components can test to, which determines where in a vehicle they may be used. Please check the below chart to see these grades, the basic temperature requirements for each grade, and where that grade of part can be used.