1500W bidirectional TVS in DO-214AB
The 1.5SMC56CA is a bidirectional Zener-based TVS (transient voltage suppressor) from Littelfuse's 1.5SMC series — 1500W peak pulse power in a DO-214AB (SMC) package, surface-mounted. Its primary job on a board is to clamp inductive kickback and ESD transients on a rail sitting around 48 V nominal, protecting downstream ICs before the clamp voltage reaches the protected device's abs-max.
Standoff, clamp and peak pulse — what drives the selection
47.8V reverse standoff (typ) is the working voltage at which the TVS leaks minimally and sits idle in the circuit — above it, the Zener avalanche kicks in. The minimum breakdown is 53.2V, which means the device does not turn on below that threshold regardless of transients riding on the rail. It does, but barely — budget the margin explicitly at design-in, not in the datasheet footnotes. Peak pulse power is stated as 1500W (1.5 kW) — a headline number that is condition-dependent; the 10/1000 µs waveform is the qualifier, and anything faster (8/20 µs) or repeated at high frequency will push the effective clamping voltage up before the power curve catches it. Use the datasheet's power-derating curve for non-repetitive or non-standard pulse shapes.
Littelfuse lists the 1.5SMC56CA as Active with the 1.5SMC series base part number. The Tape & Reel and Cut Tape packaging options cover both production-reel and prototype quantity needs.