400W bidirectional TVS for general-purpose rail protection
It provides a single bidirectional channel with a reverse standoff voltage of 13V, a minimum breakdown voltage of 14.4V, and a maximum clamping voltage of 27.2V at the peak pulse current. The device is rated for 400W peak pulse power (10/1000µs waveform) and can handle an 85A peak pulse current (8/20µs waveform).
Clamping voltage and breakdown — sizing the protection margin
The 14.4V minimum breakdown voltage means the diode starts conducting when the rail exceeds that level, while the 27.2V maximum clamp limits the let-through voltage during a surge. For a 13V nominal rail (e.g., a 12V system with tolerance), the 27.2V clamp gives enough headroom to protect downstream components rated for 30V or higher.
Package and footprint — DO-214AC (SMA)
The SMAJ13CA-TR uses the industry-standard DO-214AC (SMA) surface-mount package. This footprint is shared by many TVS diodes across manufacturers, making PCB layout straightforward and second-sourcing easier.
No second-source alternate is listed on the official cross-reference, but the SMAJ family is widely second-sourced by other manufacturers in the same DO-214AC footprint.
