WSL2512R1500FEA - 0.15 Ohm 1W Current Sense Resistor | Vishay
MPN: WSL2512R1500FEA ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.78 | $0.78 |
| 10 | $0.69 | $6.90 |
| 100 | $0.55 | $55.00 |
| 500 | $0.46 | $230.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.39 | $390.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.34 | $1,020.00 |
WSL2512R1500FEA Overview
A current-sense resistor is a low-value, high-precision component intentionally placed in series with a load so the voltage drop across it (V = I × R) can be measured by an amplifier or ADC to determine load current. Compared to general-purpose chip resistors, current-sense parts are optimized for low resistance values, low thermal drift, tight tolerance, and high pulse-power capability. The WSL2512R1500FEA sits in the broader hierarchy: current-sense resistor -> chip resistor -> passive component, and is commonly deployed alongside op-amps, current-shunt monitors, hot-swap controllers, and high-side current-sense amplifiers.
Key specifications include 150 mOhm resistance, ±1% tolerance, 1W continuous power at 70 °C (derated linearly to 0 W at 170 °C), ±75 ppm/°C TCR, and a low thermal EMF contribution from the metal-element construction. The 2512 footprint provides 6.4 mm x 3.2 mm body dimensions with a low ~0.5 mm profile, allowing placement on densely populated DC/DC, motor-drive, and battery-management PCBs.
Architecturally, the Power Metal Strip element is a solid, self-supported metal alloy resistance strip with solderable terminations, giving low thermal resistance to the PCB land pads. Pulse-withstanding construction allows short-duration overloads (e.g., inrush, short-circuit transients) without resistance shift.
Typical applications include DC/DC converter output current monitoring, BLDC motor phase current sensing, USB-C and other load-switch current limiting, battery-pack coulomb counting, and automotive ECU power-rail telemetry. The AEC-Q200 grade also fits under-hood and chassis electronics where temperature cycles and sulfur-bearing atmospheres are common.
When designing with this part, derate power aggressively at elevated ambient temperatures and follow the recommended land pattern (Pad A and Pad B larger than standard 2512 chip-resistor pads) so that reflow solder joints survive thermal cycling. Solder-paste volume should be matched to this land pattern to avoid tombstoning.
This page synthesizes distributor live-stock pricing, AEC-Q200 cross-brand drop-in alternatives, and PCB-layout guidance for the WSL2512R1500FEA that are not assembled on a single datasheet page.
Drop-in alternatives for WSL2512R1500FEA — 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:
WSL2512R1500FEB
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
WSL2512R1500FEA18
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
WSL2512R1500FEA-CUT TAPE
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ERJ-M1WSF150MU
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
CRA2512-FZ-R150ELF
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
WSL25123L300FEB
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
WSL2512R1500FEA Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Resistance | 0.150 Ohm (150 mOhm) |
| Tolerance | ±1% |
| Power Rating | 1 W |
| Temperature Coefficient (TCR) | ±75 ppm/°C |
| Package / Case | 2512 (6332 Metric) |
| Resistor Element Type | Power Metal Strip (Metal Element) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (SMD) |
| Operating Temperature | -65 °C to +170 °C |
| Composition | Metal Element |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (Digi-Reel® cut-tape options) |
| Automotive Qualification | AEC-Q200 |
| Anti-Sulfur | Yes (per Vishay Power Metal Strip construction) |
| Moisture Resistant | Yes |
| Pulse Withstanding | Yes |
| Lead Free | Yes |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
WSL2512R1500FEA Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | Pad A (Load+ / Supply-) — Sense-pad terminal A, connected to one side of the resistance element (load or supply side of the high- or low-side measurement loop) |
| Pin 2 | Pad B (Supply+ / Load-) — Sense-pad terminal B, connected to the other side of the resistance element |
Typical Applications
WSL2512R1500FEA is suitable for 6 applications: DC/DC Converter Output Current Monitoring, BLDC Motor Phase Current Sensing, USB-C / Load-Switch Current Limiting, Battery Pack Coulomb Counting & BMS Telemetry, Industrial PLC and 24V Bus Current Telemetry, Solar MPPT and Energy-Harvesting Current Sense.
DC/DC Converter Output Current Monitoring
The WSL2512R1500FEA is well-suited for output-current monitoring of 12V-to-load DC/DC converters in industrial and automotive systems. The 0.15 Ohm value produces 15 mV of sense voltage per 100 mA of load, easily resolved by a low-offset current-sense amplifier while keeping I²R loss under 60 mW at 600 mA load. ±75 ppm/°C TCR maintains accuracy across the -40 °C to +125 °C automotive range, and the 1W rating plus pulse-withstand construction handles inrush during converter startup. Place the resistor on the high side with a Kelvin connection to the sense amplifier inputs to bypass PCB trace resistance.
Recommended
BLDC Motor Phase Current Sensing
The 2512 footprint, 1W continuous, and ±75 ppm/°C TCR of WSL2512R1500FEA make it a strong fit for low-side current-shunt measurement of brushless DC motor phases. The low parasitic inductance of the bulk-metal strip preserves the di/dt edges of the PWM-driven phase current, allowing accurate torque-loop feedback. Anti-sulfur and moisture-resistant construction extend lifetime in outdoor fan, pump, and e-bike applications. Pair with a CSA or MCU-embedded op-amp that can reject the high common-mode step when the low-side FET switches.
Recommended
USB-C / Load-Switch Current Limiting
The WSL2512R1500FEA serves as the sense element in USB Type-C load switches and eFuse circuits that must detect fault currents above 1.5-3 A on a 5 V rail. The 1W continuous power rating accommodates 5 V × 1.5 A short-duration faults without resistance shift, and the ±75 ppm/°C TCR keeps the trip threshold accurate as the PCB warms from sustained load. Combined with a hot-swap controller and a low-side MOSFET, the part enables <10 µs fault response for in-system OC protection of downstream loads.
Recommended
Battery Pack Coulomb Counting & BMS Telemetry
In Li-ion battery packs and 12 V automotive battery-isolation nodes, the WSL2512R1500FEA's low TCR and tight ±1% tolerance support accurate coulomb counting and SoC estimation. The AEC-Q200 + anti-sulfur + moisture-resistant ratings allow placement inside sealed battery enclosures and chassis electronic control units. The 1W continuous rating is well above the steady-state dissipation at typical battery currents (≈0.6 W at 2 A continuous), leaving headroom for engine-cranking inrush transients.
Recommended
Industrial PLC and 24V Bus Current Telemetry
In a 24V industrial PLC or factory-automation backplane, the WSL2512R1500FEA can sit on the high side of each 24 V branch to monitor actuator current for diagnostics and overload detection. Its ±1% tolerance and ±75 ppm/°C TCR keep telemetry accurate at the typical 24 V / 0.5-3 A branch currents, and the 2512 SMD footprint handles the 1W dissipation cleanly with copper-pour thermal spreading. AEC-Q200 plus anti-sulfur provide extra margin in sulfurous or humid factory environments.
Recommended
Solar MPPT and Energy-Harvesting Current Sense
For solar MPPT charge controllers and small energy-harvesting regulators, the WSL2512R1500FEA's 0.15 Ohm value combined with ±75 ppm/°C TCR yields accurate panel-current measurement over a wide diurnal temperature span. The 1W rating supports the bursts of charge current during peak insolation, while the bulk-metal construction minimizes thermal EMF errors that otherwise degrade low-current measurement in low-VIN solar systems.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for WSL2512R1500FEA — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | WSL2512R1500FEB | WSL2512R1500FEA18 | ERJ-M1WSF150MU | CRA2512-FZ-R150ELF | WSL25123L300FEB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Vishay Intertechnology | Vishay Intertechnology | Vishay Intertechnology | Panasonic | Bourns | Vishay Intertechnology |
| Package | 2512 (6332 Metric) | 2512 (6332 Metric) - same | 2512 (6332 Metric) - same | 2512 (6332 Metric) - same | 2512 (6332 Metric) - same | 2512 (6332 Metric) - same |
| Resistance | 0.150 Ohm | 0.150 Ohm | 0.150 Ohm | 0.150 Ohm | 0.150 Ohm | 0.003 Ohm (not a value substitute) |
| Tolerance | ±1% | ±1% | ±1% | ±1% | ±1% | ±1% |
| Power Rating | 1 W | 1 W | 1 W | 1 W | 1 W | 1 W |
| TCR | ±75 ppm/°C | ±75 ppm/°C | ±75 ppm/°C | ±100 ppm/°C (typ.) | ±100 ppm/°C (typ.) | ±75 ppm/°C |
| AEC-Q200 / Automotive | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Panasonic automotive grade) | Yes (Bourns automotive grade) | Yes |
| Anti-Sulfur / Moisture Resistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (ERJ-M family) | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Industry's broadest 0.15 Ohm 2512 same-footprint alternatives with verified AEC-Q200 + anti-sulfur + moisture-resistant parity (vs ERJ-M1WSF150MU)
- Established automotive-grade heritage across the WSL Power Metal Strip family (vs CRA2512-FZ-R150ELF)
- Tight datasheet derating curves matched to 2512 PCB land-pattern design kits (vs WSL2512R1500FEA18)
Design Notes
Use the manufacturer's recommended enlarged 2512 land pattern (Pad A and Pad B longer than a generic 2512 chip-resistor pad) when laying out the WSL2512R1500FEA. The enlarged pads are required to spread heat, ensure reliable solder-joint formation, and survive thermal cycling under 1 W steady-state or pulsed load. A standard 2512 land pattern intended for thicker chip resistors can yield cold solder joints and premature failure in the field.
Estimated derating for the WSL2512R1500FEA at 1 W continuous: at an ambient of 70 °C the part is at full rated power, above that the rating drops linearly to 0 W at 170 °C. With θJA in the region of ~50 °C/W on a 1 oz 2512 copper-pour pad (per Vishay Power Metal Strip apps guidance), 1 W of steady dissipation produces a ~50 °C rise above ambient; combined, junction reaches ~120 °C at a 70 °C ambient. For harsh automotive enclosures, place the resistor on top copper with via stitching to inner-plane copper to lower θJA.
Avoid using a standard 2512 land pattern, which causes solder-joint voids and field failures. Ensure the PCB sense traces form a Kelvin connection directly at the resistor pads to keep trace resistance (typically 5-30 mOhm at 2512 pitches) from adding error to your 150 mOhm measurement. If measuring the high-side of a switching converter, validate the sense amplifier's common-mode rejection versus the switching edge dV/dt, or add a small RC filter before the amplifier input.
The bulk-metal strip construction of the WSL2512R1500FEA keeps parasitic inductance low (typically <5 nH), so the part is suitable for switched-mode current sense where the waveform contains high di/dt edges, including DC/DC converters at 1 MHz and motor drives at 50 kHz. Thermal EMF from mismatched metal-to-solder joints is also low, which is critical when reading small sense voltages (<5 mV) at near-zero current.
Compliance Information
AEC-Q200 qualified per DigiKey listing and Vishay Power Metal Strip family declaration. RoHS and REACH compliant; lead-free reflow-compatible per JEDEC J-STD-020.
