Vishay General Semiconductor - Diodes Division 1.5KE6.8HE3/54

Overview

1.5KE6.8HE3/54 from Vishay General Semiconductor is a unidirectional Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) diode designed for primary overvoltage protection on DC power rails and signal lines. It features a 6.45 V to 7.14 V breakdown voltage (V_BR) at 10 mA, 5.80 V maximum working peak reverse voltage (V_WM), 1000 µA maximum reverse leakage at V_WM, 1500 W peak pulse power (10/1000 µs), and clamps transients to ≤10.5 V at 143 A peak pulse current - deployed in automotive body control modules and industrial PLC I/O protection.

For engineers reviewing the 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 datasheet, 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 pinout, 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 application, or 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 equivalent, this page delivers verified electrical parameters, JEDEC 1.5KE package details, AEC-Q101 qualification status, thermal resistance (R_θJA = 75 °C/W), and real-world clamping performance data per Fig. 7–8 of Vishay Document 88301.

Technical Context

This device operates as a silicon avalanche diode with glass passivated junction, delivering bidirectional-capable clamping action only when configured as CA-suffix variants - the 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 is unidirectional, with cathode marked by axial band. Its response time is ≤1 ns, enabling protection of fast-switching MOSFET gates and microcontroller I/O against ESD and inductive switching spikes.

Clamping behavior follows a well-defined incremental voltage curve (ΔV_C = V_C – V_BR) with low dynamic impedance; at 143 A IPPM, it achieves 10.5 V clamping, yielding <0.9 Ω effective surge impedance. Thermal design must account for R_θJL = 15.4 °C/W and derating above T_A = 25 °C per Fig. 2.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: JEDEC DO-201AD (Case Style 1.5KE), molded epoxy body with matte tin-plated leads; RoHS-compliant and AEC-Q101 qualified (HE3 suffix). Dimensions: 5.3 mm × 5.3 mm × 9.5 mm (L × W × H), lead spacing 9.5 mm.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar transient voltage suppression applications.

Compared with SMBJ6.8A and 1.5KE6.8A-E3/54, the 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 uniquely combines AEC-Q101 qualification, 1500 W pulse rating, and DO-201AD mechanical robustness - making it the only option among the three qualified for under-hood automotive deployment with full load dump immunity.

Availability

1.5KE6.8HE3/54 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive ECU design, industrial PLC I/O protection, telecom line card surge hardening, and consumer USB power rail safeguarding requiring stable component supply across multi-year production cycles.

Supply support for 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Vishay General Semiconductor is a global leader in discrete semiconductors, specializing in diodes, rectifiers, and protection devices with emphasis on reliability, power handling, and automotive qualification.

The 1.5KE family was engineered specifically for high-energy transient suppression in harsh environments - targeting automotive, industrial, and telecom infrastructure where 1500 W surge immunity and AEC-Q101 validation are non-negotiable.

FAQ

What is the breakdown voltage tolerance of the 1.5KE6.8HE3/54?

The 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 has a specified breakdown voltage range of 6.45 V to 7.14 V at 10 mA test current (I_T), representing ±5% tolerance around the nominal 6.8 V rating. This tight V_BR window ensures consistent triggering behavior across production lots and supports predictable system-level overvoltage margining in designs using the 1.5KE6.8HE3/54.

Is the 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 suitable for bidirectional transient protection?

No - the 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 is a unidirectional TVS diode, identified by its "A" suffix and cathode band marking. Bidirectional operation requires the "CA" suffix (e.g., 1.5KE6.8CA). Using the 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 in AC or floating-line applications will result in forward conduction during negative half-cycles, potentially causing failure. Always verify polarity alignment when deploying the 1.5KE6.8HE3/54.

Does the 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 meet AEC-Q101 requirements?

Yes - the HE3 suffix explicitly denotes AEC-Q101 qualification per Vishay Document 88301, Section 2.2. The 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 has undergone stress testing including temperature cycling, humidity bias, and high-temperature operating life to validate reliability in automotive under-hood environments. This qualification is confirmed for part numbers ranging from 1.5KE6.8AHE3_B to 1.5KE220AHE3_B, including the 1.5KE6.8HE3/54.

What is the clamping voltage of the 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 at rated peak pulse current?

At its rated peak pulse current of 143 A (10/1000 µs waveform), the 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 clamps to a maximum of 10.5 V, as specified in Table 1 of Vishay Document 88301. This V_C value is measured under standardized surge conditions and represents the upper bound of voltage seen by protected circuitry - critical for ensuring compatibility with 5 V or 3.3 V logic interfaces downstream of the 1.5KE6.8HE3/54.

Can the 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 be used in parallel for higher surge current handling?

Parallel use of 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 devices is not recommended without individual current-sharing resistors due to V_BR mismatch (±5%), which causes uneven current division and potential thermal runaway. For higher surge ratings, Vishay specifies larger packages (e.g., 3.0KE series) or stacked configurations with matched batches. The 1.5KE6.8HE3/54 is optimized for single-device 1500 W protection; exceeding that requires re-evaluation of layout, thermal path, and system-level coordination.