Device identity and key parametrics
The 1.5KE15HE3/54: The single unidirectional channel protects a single 12V rail against transients up to 1.5kW.
Lifecycle status and sourcing reality
Vishay lists the 1.5KE15HE3/54 as obsolete. No official successor order code is recorded from the manufacturer. For new designs or volume production, a functionally equivalent TVS diode in the same 1500W, 12V-class family should be evaluated. The AEC-Q101 qualification and DO-201AA footprint are the primary fit constraints.
Clamping performance and application fit
The 1500W peak pulse rating at 10/1000µs means it absorbs high-energy surges without failing short — the TransZorb® silicon-avalanche construction handles repetitive events within the junction temperature envelope. Power line protection is not supported (no bidirectional or crowbar function) — this is a single-direction clamp for unipolar rails. The axial-lead DO-201AA body suits point-to-point wiring on terminal blocks or PCB through-hole layouts where surface-mount reflow is not an option.