600 W bidirectional Zener — what it protects
It clamps transients from a 5.8 V reverse standoff to a maximum clamping voltage of 13.4 V at a peak pulse current of 298 A (8/20 µs waveform). The one bidirectional channel handles symmetrical overvoltage events, making it a fit for AC signal lines or DC rails where polarity reversal is possible. The DO-15 axial package suits through-hole mounting on general-purpose power and signal boards.
Obsolete — sourcing the last-time-buy or replacement
The difference is the suffix — the CARL variant was a specific reel-packaged version; the CA suffix is the standard bidirectional code for this series. For a BOM line already qualified to the P6KE footprint, the P6KE6V8CA is the drop-in candidate to evaluate for second-sourcing or replacement.
Ratings that decide the fit
The 6.45 V minimum breakdown voltage is the threshold where the device starts to conduct. The 13.4 V clamping voltage at 298 A defines the worst-case voltage the downstream circuitry sees during a surge — a critical number for the voltage rating of the components behind the TVS. The 2000 pF capacitance at 1 MHz is high enough to load a high-speed signal line, so this part is best suited for power buses and low-frequency I/O rather than fast data interfaces.
Mounting and environment
Through-hole axial DO-15 package. The board-level replacement is straightforward — same lead spacing as the standard DO-204AC footprint. The part is rated for general-purpose applications; no specific temperature grade or qualification is listed, so assume the standard industrial temperature range typical for this class of TVS.