Obsolete — sourcing through independent channels
The 1.5KE16-E3/73: The 1.5KE16-/73 is listed as Obsolete by Vishay. This means the manufacturer has discontinued production and there is no official last-time-buy window remaining. No official successor order code is recorded. A functionally equivalent replacement would require a board-level review of the clamping voltage, peak pulse current, and package footprint.
Clamping and standoff ratings for the BOM line
The breakdown voltage range starts at 14.4 V minimum, and the clamping voltage at peak pulse current is 23.5 V maximum. Peak pulse power is rated at 1500 W (1.5 kW) for a 10/1000 µs waveform, corresponding to a peak pulse current of 63.8 A. This rating defines the surge-handling capability for a single transient event; derating is required for repetitive pulses or elevated ambient temperatures.
Housed in a DO-201AA (DO-27) axial-lead through-hole package. The operating junction temperature range is -55°C to +175°C, covering military and industrial thermal environments. The wide temperature envelope suits applications where the diode sees sustained self-heating from repetitive transients. The device is not rated for power line protection — it is intended for general-purpose transient suppression on signal, data, or low-voltage DC supply lines.