Taiwan Semiconductor Corporation P4KE43

Overview

P4KE43 from Taiwan Semiconductor is a unidirectional 400W transient voltage suppressor (TVS) diode designed for primary overvoltage protection in DC power rails and signal lines. It features a nominal breakdown voltage of 43 V, clamps transients to ≤61.9 V at 6.7 A peak pulse current, and maintains low leakage (<1 µA at 34.8 V working stand-off voltage), making it suitable for automotive body electronics and industrial control I/O protection.

For engineers reviewing the P4KE43 datasheet, P4KE43 pinout, P4KE43 application, or P4KE43 equivalent, key selection criteria include its DO-41 package compatibility, 10/1000 µs surge rating, unidirectional polarity marking, and temperature coefficient of 0.101 %/°C - all critical for ESD and load-dump immunity design validation.

Technical Context

The P4KE43 operates as a silicon avalanche diode with fast response time (<1.0 ps from 0 V to V_BR) and low dynamic impedance, enabling effective suppression of fast-rising transients such as EFT and ISO 7637-2 pulses. Its unidirectional configuration provides forward conduction capability up to 40 A surge current (8.3 ms half-sine) while maintaining reverse blocking up to 34.8 V.

Thermal performance is defined by a maximum junction temperature of 175 °C and steady-state power dissipation of 1 W at 75 °C lead temperature. The device meets UL 94V-0 flammability requirements and is RoHS-compliant with halogen-free molding compound per IEC 61249-2-21.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: DO-204AL (DO-41), axial-leaded, epoxy-molded case with cathode band marking for unidirectional polarity. Leads are pure tin-plated and solderable per J-STD-002; weight ≈ 0.300 g.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar TVS diode applications.

Compared with SMAJ43A and 1.5KE43A, the P4KE43 delivers tighter V_BR tolerance (±10%), lower clamping voltage (61.9 V vs. ≥69.4 V), and optimal fit for cost-sensitive, space-constrained 12–24 V DC systems requiring consistent sub-65 V protection.

Availability

P4KE43 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive body electronics, industrial PLC I/O modules, LED driver power inputs, and telecom line card surge protection requiring stable component supply across multi-year production cycles.

Supply support for P4KE43 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

Taiwan Semiconductor Corporation (TSC) is a vertically integrated semiconductor manufacturer specializing in discrete power devices, rectifiers, and protection components with global AEC-Q101 qualification capabilities.

The P4KE43 belongs to TSC's P4KE Series of unidirectional TVS diodes engineered for high-reliability transient suppression in automotive, industrial, and consumer power systems where precise clamping and long-term stability are essential.

FAQ

What is the maximum clamping voltage of the P4KE43 under standard 10/1000 µs surge conditions?

The P4KE43 has a maximum clamping voltage (V_C) of 61.9 V when subjected to its rated peak pulse current of 6.7 A using the 10/1000 µs waveform. This value is measured per ANSI/IEEE C62.35 and ensures predictable overvoltage limiting for downstream 65 V-rated ICs. The P4KE43 achieves this clamping performance while maintaining low dynamic impedance and minimal voltage overshoot.

Is the P4KE43 suitable for automotive applications requiring AEC-Q101 qualification?

Yes - the P4KE43H variant (with "H" suffix) is explicitly AEC-Q101 qualified by Taiwan Semiconductor and undergoes stress testing including temperature cycling, highly accelerated life testing (HALT), and mechanical shock per JESD22 standards. The base P4KE43 is not qualified; designers must specify P4KE43H for automotive-grade deployments such as BCM or ADAS power rail protection.

How does the P4KE43 differ from the P4KE43A variant?

The P4KE43A offers tighter breakdown voltage tolerance: 40.9–45.2 V versus 38.7–47.3 V for the P4KE43. Both share identical V_WM (34.8 V), I_PPM (6.7 A), V_C (61.9 V), and package (DO-41). The P4KE43A's improved V_BR consistency supports designs requiring stricter clamping predictability, especially in safety-critical 24 V industrial controls where margin to IC absolute maximum ratings is constrained.

What is the reverse leakage current specification for the P4KE43 at its working stand-off voltage?

The P4KE43 exhibits a maximum reverse leakage current (I_D) of 1 µA when biased at its working stand-off voltage of 34.8 V. This ultra-low leakage ensures negligible standby power draw in battery-backed systems and prevents false triggering in high-impedance sensing circuits. Measured at T_A = 25 °C, leakage remains below 5 µA up to 80 % of V_WM across the full operating temperature range.

Can the P4KE43 be used in bidirectional configurations?

No - the P4KE43 is a unidirectional TVS diode, identifiable by its cathode band marking and specified V_BR/V_C parameters for reverse-biased operation only. For bidirectional protection, Taiwan Semiconductor offers the P4KE43CA variant (with "CA" suffix), which provides symmetrical clamping in both polarities and is rated for the same 400 W peak power and 61.9 V clamping voltage in either direction.