Mean Well ICL-16L – Reliable Standalone Inrush Limiter

ICL-16L Technical Data

AC Input Voltage 180 ~ 264VAC
AC Line Frequency 47 ~ 63Hz
Inrush Current Limiting 23A
AC Continuous Rated Current 16A continuous
AC Input Power 3680VA (16A x 230VAC)
AC Input Consumption <1.5W at 264VAC,50Hz input
Internal Relay Limiting Time (TON Power On) 300 50ms ±

Internal Relay

Limiting Cycles PSU Set up time<250ms / 1 cycle / 5 min PSU Set up time 250 ~ 350ms / 1 cycle / 1 min PSU Set up time >350ms / 5 cycle / 1 min (>1500ms per cycle)

Release Time 500 50ms
Internal Protection Thermal fuse protects overload and fire
Allowed Capacitive Load 2500 F max. μ
Working Temp. -30 ~ +70℃
Working Humidity 20 ~ 90% RH non-condensing
Storage Temp. -40 ~ +85℃
Temp. Coefficient ±℃ ℃ 0.03%/ (0 ~ 50 ) RH non-condensing
Vibration 10 ~ 500Hz, 2G 10min./1cycle, period for 60min. each along X, Y, Z axes; Mounting: Compliance to IEC60068-2-6
Operating Altitude 5000 meters
Over Voltage Category Ⅲ; According to IEC62368-1; altitude up to 5000 meters
Pollution Degree 2
Safety Standards LVD BS EN/EN62368-1 approved

ICL-16L Safety & EMC

EMC Emission

Conducted BS EN/EN55032 Class B
Radiated BS EN/EN55032 Class B
Harmonic Current BS EN/EN61000-3-2 Class A
Voltage Flicker BS EN/EN61000-3-3

EMC Immunity

ESD BS EN/EN61000-4-2 Level 3, 8KV air; Level 2, 4KV contact, criteria A
Radiated Susceptibility BS EN/EN61000-4-3 Level 3, criteria A
EFT/Burest BS EN/EN61000-4-4 Level 3, criteria A
Surge BS EN/EN61000-4-5 Level 4,2KV/L-N, criteria A
Conducted BS EN/EN61000-4-6 Level 3, criteria A
Magnetic Field BS EN/EN61000-4-8 Level 4, criteria A
Voltage Dips and interruptions BS EN/EN61000-4-11 ＞. 95% dip 0 5 periods, 30% dip 25 periods,
＞95% interruptions 250 periods

MTBF 7217 9K hrs min. Telcordia SR-332 (Bellcore) ; .
2113 8K hrs min. MIL-HDBK-217F (25℃)
Dimension 175 42 24 * * mm L*W*H)
Packing 0.132Kg; 98pcs/14Kg/1.04CUFT

An inrush current limiter (ICL) is a specialized component used to temporarily suppress the initial surge of electrical current that occurs when electronic devices are first powered on. This surge—often called “switch-on surge”—can exceed normal operating levels by multiple times. ICLs protect sensitive components, prevent fuses from blowing, and stop circuit breakers from tripping.

Why Does Inrush Current Happen?

When you first switch on a device, certain electronic parts act differently than they do during steady, normal operation:

Capacitors: Empty capacitors behave like a short circuit, drawing maximum current to charge up instantly.

Transformers & Motors: Inductive loads experience a temporary magnetic saturation that creates a heavy initial draw.

Incandescent Bulbs: Cold filaments have extremely low resistance, allowing a massive spike of current before they heat up.

Common Technologies Used

ICLs come in a few different forms, depending on your application:

NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) Thermistors:

1. How they work: Placed in series with the load, these resistors have a high resistance when cold, blocking the initial current surge. As current flows, they heat up, and their resistance drops to a negligibly low level, allowing normal operation.
2. Best for: Low-cost power supplies and consumer electronics.
3. Drawback: They require a cool-down period. If you turn a device off and immediately back on, the thermistor is still hot, meaning it cannot properly limit the next inrush.

Fixed Resistors with Bypass Relays (Active Limiters):

1. How they work: A fixed resistor limits the inrush current, and once the device is running, a relay (or MOSFET) shorts out (bypasses) the resistor so the current flows freely.
2. Best for: High-power applications, power amplifiers, and industrial equipment.

PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) Thermistors:

1. How they work: Similar to a solid-state fuse, these provide a specified resistance until a specific transition temperature is reached. If the inrush current spikes or a fault occurs, the thermistor gets hot and its resistance skyrockets, restricting the current flow.

DIN Rail Modules:

1. How they work: Ready-to-use plug-and-play devices (like the Mean Well ICL series) that can be installed directly inside electrical or distribution boxes. These typically feature built-in bypass relays for highly efficient and continuous high-current performance.

Established in 1982, headquartered in New Taipei City, MEAN WELL is a Standard Power Supply manufacturer and dedicated to developing specialized industrial power supplies solutions for decades.

Marketed worldwide with its own brand “MEAN WELL”, MEAN WELL power supply has been widely used in all industries and almost everywhere in your life. From home espresso machine, Gogoro electric scooter charging station, to the well-known landmark Taipei 101 skyscraper top lighting and Taoyuan International Airport jet bridge lighting, all of these you will surprisingly find MEWN WELL Power hidden inside, functioning as the heart of the machine, providing stable voltage and current for a long time, and powering up the whole machine and system to operate smoothly.

MEAN WELL Power has been widely used in different industries such as Industrial Automation, LED Lighting/ outdoor signage, Medical, Telecommuting, Transportation and Green Energy applications.

MEAN WELL has maintained a long term, solid relationship with our customers, suppliers, and employees in the spirit of “good intention” and “reliable partner” commitments since the company founded. Over the years, MEAN WELL has built hundreds of reliable partnership around the world.