Load-powered relay enables battery‑less designs

February 5, 2026

The Littelfuse CPC1601M is an ultra-compact solid-state relay which operates without the need for a dedicated power supply, simplifying the design of systems requiring a reliable isolated power switch.

The CPC1601M, a 1FormA solid-state latching relay, supports load-powered operation, enabling it to harvest operating power from the open-circuit load itself and draw zero current from the system supply. This means the CPC1601M can switch ac or dc loads without needing a dedicated power supply.

 

The relay’s latching design requires only momentary pulses on its Set, Reset or Toggle inputs to change state, consuming no coil-hold current. A zero-current switching feature ensures the relay opens at or near zero load current when in load-powered mode, minimizing inductive kickback and electrical noise.

 

Featuring low on-resistance, the CPC1601M handles loads with minimal conduction loss. As a solid-state device, it has no moving parts and operates silently and reliably, unlike electromechanical relays.

 

These capabilities make the CPC1601M ideal for battery-powered or retrofit control systems. In smart thermostats and two-wire heating, ventilation and air conditioning installations, it removes the need for a common power wire, simplifying upgrades in older buildings. Its silent operation and long electrical life lend themselves to use in security panels and fire alarm systems, in which maintenance-free and noise-free switching is crucial.

Features

  • 60V maximum load voltage
  • 2A ac/dc maximum continuous load current
  • 308mΩ on-resistance
  • Supply-voltage range: 3.0V to 5.5V
  • <1µA quiescent current

Applications

  • Smart thermostats
  • HVAC systems
  • Fire alarm panels
  • Security control panels and intruder alarms
  • Building automation equipment
  • Lighting controls
  • Meters
  • IoT sensors
Littelfuse — CPC1601M Solid-State Relay

Evaluation Board

Part Number: LEB-0024

The LEB-0024 evaluation board for the CPC1601M from Littelfuse includes on-board switches and a mode selector, allowing easy hands-on testing of the relay either manually or via external control signals.

 

The kit features manual load switching via built-in tactile push-buttons, external control input pins for driving the relay from a microcontroller or logic, and a slide-switch to select an external supply or load-powered mode. The board includes a test pin to power external components up to 10mW, and over-voltage protection with a transient voltage suppression diode for the relay outputs.

 

The LEB-0024 board provides a ready-made platform to evaluate the CPC1601M latching and energy-harvesting capabilities.

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