MCR18ERTF5901 - 5.9 kOhm 1% 1/4W 1206 AEC-Q200 Resistor | ROHM
MPN: MCR18ERTF5901 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.1 | $0.10 |
| 10 | $0.082 | $0.82 |
| 100 | $0.061 | $6.10 |
| 500 | $0.042 | $21.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.031 | $31.00 |
| 5,000 | $0.024 | $120.00 |
MCR18ERTF5901 Overview
A chip resistor is a passive SMD component whose resistance is set by a thick- or thin-film layer deposited on an alumina (Al2O3) ceramic substrate. Thick-film resistors use a ruthenium-oxide (RuO2) or silver-palladium paste screen-printed onto the substrate and fired, then laser- or abrasive-trimmed to value; they sit within the taxonomy resistor → fixed resistor → surface-mount resistor → chip resistor. The 1206 case (3.2 × 1.6 mm) is the second-most-popular SMD size after 0805 and offers a useful compromise between power handling, parasitic reactance, and ease of hand rework.
Key features of the MCR18ERTF5901 include ±1% resistance tolerance, ±100 ppm/°C TCR (suitable for general-purpose analog and digital circuits where drift over -55 °C to +155 °C is acceptable), anti-sulfur construction typical of the MCR-series 'E' designation, and a -55 °C to +155 °C operating range. The wraparound Ni/Sn solder terminations are compatible with lead-free reflow profiles up to 260 °C peak per JEDEC J-STD-020.
Technically the part belongs to ROHM's MCR18 (1206 1/4 W) family. The 'ER' suffix denotes ±1% / 100 ppm/°C and the trailing 'F' identifies Pb-free packaging, while 'T' indicates Tape & Reel. The '5901' is the resistance code in Rohm's 4-digit EIA-96-style system (590 × 10^1 = 5900 Ω). Junction-to-ambient thermal resistance is approximately 250 °C/W on a standard 1-oz FR-4 test board, so derating begins around 70 °C ambient.
Typical applications include general-purpose pull-up / pull-down networks, LED current-setting in 10–20 mA ranges, op-amp gain-setting, RC timing, and automotive ECU, body, and chassis modules where AEC-Q200 qualification is mandated. In all cases it is used as a fixed, stable bias or reference element.
When designing with this part, confirm that worst-case dissipation stays below the derated 1/4 W rating across the full operating temperature range and keep solder-joint geometry within JEDEC land-pattern recommendations to preserve the AEC-Q200 reliability margin.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, AEC-Q200 alternative mapping, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for MCR18ERTF5901 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MCR18ERTF5902
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MCR18ERTF1001
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MCR18ERTF2001
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CRCW12065K90FKEA
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RC1206FR-075K9L
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ERJ-8ENF5901V
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MCR18ERTF5901 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Resistance | 5.9 kOhm |
| Resistance Tolerance | ±1% |
| Power Rating | 0.25 W (1/4 W) |
| Temperature Coefficient | ±100 ppm/°C |
| Package / Case | 1206 (3216 Metric) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Technology | Thick Film |
| Automotive Qualification | AEC-Q200 |
| Operating Temperature | -55 °C to +155 °C |
| Termination Style | Wraparound (Ni/Sn, lead-free) |
| Anti-Sulfur | Yes (MCR 'E' series construction) |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (T) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| REACH Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | MSL1 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
MCR18ERTF5901 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | Termination 1 — Solder pad; either termination is functionally interchangeable |
| Pin 2 | Termination 2 — Solder pad; either termination is functionally interchangeable |
Typical Applications
MCR18ERTF5901 is suitable for 6 applications: Automotive ECU Pull-Up / Pull-Down Networks, LED Current-Setting Resistor, Op-Amp Gain-Setting Resistor, RC Timing and Filter Networks, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, Battery Management Bias Networks.
Automotive ECU Pull-Up / Pull-Down Networks
The MCR18ERTF5901's AEC-Q200 qualification and ±1% tolerance make it a robust bias-element for automotive ECU digital logic. Its 5.9 kΩ value fits standard 5 V and 3.3 V microcontroller pull-up networks, keeping leakage below 1 mA while supplying ≥4× the input bias of most CMOS GPIOs. The 0.25 W power rating comfortably handles continuous bias even at 125 °C ambient, and the -55 °C to +155 °C operating range covers under-hood thermal swings without drift beyond the ±100 ppm/°C TCR envelope.
Recommended
LED Current-Setting Resistor
The MCR18ERTF5901 can set bias current through indicator LEDs and optocoupler inputs in industrial control panels. With 5.9 kΩ in series with a typical 2.0 V green LED across a 5 V rail, the bias current lands near 0.5 mA — well within the LED's safe operating area and inside the 0.25 W resistor rating (P ≈ 4 mW). The part's anti-sulfur 'E' construction is particularly valuable near rubber seals, battery off-gassing, or industrial atmospheres where sulfur compounds corrode standard silver terminations.
Recommended
Op-Amp Gain-Setting Resistor
In non-inverting amplifier topologies the MCR18ERTF5901's 5.9 kΩ value pairs cleanly with common E96 feedback values (1 kΩ, 2 kΩ, 4.99 kΩ) to produce integer or near-integer gains. While a thin-film ±25 ppm/°C part would suit precision instrumentation, the MCR18ERTF5901's ±100 ppm/°C TCR and 1% tolerance are perfectly adequate for general-purpose op-amp stages in power-conversion feedback, audio pre-amplification, and consumer analog front-ends. The 1206 footprint offers good thermal mass for low-noise stages.
Recommended
RC Timing and Filter Networks
For low-frequency RC low-pass filters, debounce circuits, and µ/ω-period oscillators, the MCR18ERTF5901's 5.9 kΩ combines with standard capacitor values to yield reproducible time constants. A 5.9 kΩ / 1 nF pair gives τ = 5.9 µs (cutoff ≈ 27 kHz); with 100 nF the cutoff falls to 270 Hz — ideal for hardware debouncing of mechanical switches. The 0.25 W rating and ±1% tolerance keep the time-constant drift dominated by the capacitor, not the resistor.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
In 4–20 mA current loops and PLC analog input conditioning, the MCR18ERTF5901 functions as a precision shunt or input-terminating element. Its AEC-Q200 qualification exceeds typical industrial stress tests, providing extra margin in 24 V factory-automation rails. Anti-sulfur construction protects the wraparound terminations from the H2S that accumulates near rubber gaskets, conformal coating, and battery-backed systems in chemical plants and oil-and-gas installations.
Recommended
Battery Management Bias Networks
Inside EV and e-mobility battery-management systems (BMS), the MCR18ERTF5901 forms part of voltage-divider and reference-current networks for cell-monitoring ICs. Its 0.25 W power rating tolerates continuous operation at 5 V across the divider, and the AEC-Q200 rating meets automotive BMS qualification. The part's tight ±1% tolerance reduces cell-voltage measurement gain error, and its -55 °C to +155 °C range covers both cold-soak and hot-park battery-pack conditions.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MCR18ERTF5901 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MCR18ERTF5902 | CRCW12065K90FKEA | RC1206FR-075K9L | ERJ-8ENF5901V |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | ROHM Semiconductor | ROHM Semiconductor | Vishay Intertechnology | YAGEO | Panasonic |
| Package | 1206 (3216 Metric) | 1206 (3216 Metric) | 1206 (3216 Metric) | 1206 (3216 Metric) | 1206 (3216 Metric) |
| Resistance | 5.9 kOhm | 59 kOhm (different value) | 5.9 kOhm | 5.9 kOhm | 5.90 kOhm |
| Tolerance | ±1% | ±1% | ±1% | ±1% | ±1% |
| Power Rating | 0.25 W | 0.25 W | 0.25 W | 0.25 W | 0.25 W |
| TCR | ±100 ppm/°C | ±100 ppm/°C | ±100 ppm/°C | ±100 ppm/°C | ±100 ppm/°C |
| AEC-Q200 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | -55 °C to +155 °C | -55 °C to +155 °C | -55 °C to +155 °C | -55 °C to +155 °C | -55 °C to +155 °C |
Key Differentiators
- Anti-sulfur 'E'-series construction (vs CRCW12065K90FKEA)
- MCR18 family code consistency (vs RC1206FR-075K9L)
- 155 °C upper operating-temperature limit (vs ERJ-8ENF5901V)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 25 °C ambient, the MCR18ERTF5901 dissipates the rated 0.25 W with no derating. Above 70 °C ambient the rated power must be derated linearly to 0 W at 155 °C. For a continuous 0.20 W load in an enclosed automotive ECU at 105 °C ambient, junction temperature rise is approximately 50 °C using the standard 1-oz FR-4 theta_JA of 250 °C/W — within the 155 °C ceiling. Always validate with board-level thermal imaging.
Use the JEDEC EIA-1206 land pattern with two 0.90 × 1.30 mm pads on a 2.00 mm pitch. Avoid routing high-current traces or copper pours directly under the resistor body to prevent solder-joint thermal fatigue. Apply a 1.6 mm to 2.0 mm solder mask sliver between the two pads to prevent bridging during reflow. Lead-free reflow per JEDEC J-STD-020 with peak 260 °C for ≤30 seconds is supported.
Do not exceed the 200 V maximum working voltage or 400 V overload voltage. Avoid hand-soldering with excessive dwell time — the wraparound Ni/Sn terminations can wick solder up the termination, raising resistance drift. For circuits above 38 V across the resistor, recalculate worst-case power (P = V²/R) to ensure operation inside the 0.25 W derating envelope at your maximum ambient temperature.
Compliance Information
AEC-Q200 qualified by ROHM per MCR-series datasheet. Halogen-free and lead-free terminations per ROHM product page. AEC-Q100 is not applicable (passive component).
