DO-214AB footprint and board integration
The 1.5SMC16CA-Q comes in a DO-214AB (SMC) surface-mount package — a standard footprint shared across the 1.5SMC-Q series. The large tab on the bottom side conducts heat to the PCB copper; a thermal pad under the package with multiple vias to an inner ground plane keeps the junction temperature within the -55°C to 150°C operating range during repetitive surge events.
For a 13.6 V nominal rail (reverse standoff), this means the TVS absorbs the transient without conducting at normal operating voltage — the 15.2 V minimum breakdown ensures it stays off until the surge arrives.
AEC-Q101 and automotive deployment
The 1.5SMC16CA-Q is qualified to AEC-Q101, the automotive discrete semiconductor stress-test standard. This covers temperature cycling, high-temperature reverse bias, and ESD robustness — the same tests that qualify a diode for under-hood or cabin electronics. The bidirectional channel protects against both positive and negative transients on a single signal line, which is common in automotive sensor and communication buses.