Obsolete AEC-Q101 TVS — what the ratings mean for a BOM decision
The 1.5KE15CHE3/73: The single bidirectional channel handles both positive and negative transients on the same line. Peak pulse current is 68.2A under the same 10/1000 µs condition — the clamping voltage times this current stays within the 1500W power envelope.
Through-hole DO-201AA axial package (also known as DO-27) — the leads are 0.96 mm diameter typical, spaced 8.9 mm apart. The body is 5.3 mm diameter and 7.6 mm long. It mounts into a 1.1 mm hole on a standard PCB or terminal strip. No power line protection feature — this is a signal-line or low-power rail TVS, not designed for mains or high-current bus clamping. The Tape & Box (TB) packaging is suitable for hand-insertion or selective machine loading, not high-speed reel-fed assembly.
Sourcing an obsolete AEC-Q101 TVS
With the 1.5KE15CHE3/73 officially obsolete per Vishay's lifecycle status, new production is no longer available from the factory. Sourcing is through independent distribution channels — surplus, overstock, or last-time-buy inventory that was produced before the EOL date. A pin-compatible functional equivalent would need the same DO-201AA footprint, 12.1V standoff, 1500W peak pulse rating, and AEC-Q101 qualification — a parametric search against those four constraints yields candidates, but each must be verified for clamping voltage and breakdown tolerance against the original Vishay curve. Lot traceability and date code selection can be requested for matching existing production batches.