What the 1.5 kW rating means for your protection design
The 1.5KE160C: At a reverse standoff voltage of 136 V, it clamps transients to 229.95 V max while conducting 6.9 A peak pulse current — enough to absorb lightning-induced surges and inductive load dumps on 120 VAC or 48 VDC rails without the device self-destructing. It is a single-event protector, not a continuous clamp — the 1.5 kW rating is a peak pulse capability, not steady-state dissipation.
Housed in a DO-201AA (DO-27) axial leaded package, the 1.5KE160C is a through-hole device intended for point-to-point wiring or PCB mounting with a 0.375-inch lead spacing. The DO-201 footprint is standard across the 1.5KE series — if your layout already accommodates a 1.5KE150A or 1.5KE180A, this part drops in without a board spin. The wide range means the clamping voltage shift over temperature stays within the datasheet limits — no derating needed for cold-start or under-hood conditions.
Littelfuse lists the 1.5KE160C as Obsolete. For existing designs that cannot migrate to a surface-mount package, the 1.5KE160C is available through independent distribution channels.