1500W Zener TVS — obsolete, available on the spot market
The 1.5KE160-E3/73: Listed as obsolete by Vishay, so this part is not available through the factory channel.
Clamping threshold and reverse standoff
Reverse standoff voltage is 130V typ — the rail stays below this in normal operation, and the diode only conducts above it. At the 6.5A peak pulse current the clamping voltage hits 230V max, which is the voltage the protected circuit must survive. Breakdown occurs at 144V min, giving a 14V guard band between the standoff and the avalanche threshold. Unidirectional single-channel design — the cathode band marks the anode for PCB orientation.
DO-201AA axial package — board-fit note
Through-hole DO-201AA (DO-27) axial body. The lead diameter and body length match the standard 0.100-inch pitch hole grid — no footprint change needed if replacing another 1.5KE-series part in the same hole pattern. Operating junction temperature range is -55°C to 175°C, so the diode handles the self-heating from repetitive surges in a sealed enclosure without derating the peak power below 1500W.
Sourcing reality for an obsolete TransZorb
Stock moves through surplus and broker channels only. No official successor order code is published by Vishay for this specific variant. If a production BOM needs a drop-in, the 1.5KE series shares the same DO-201AA footprint and pinout across voltage grades — a parametric search at the same 130V standoff and 1500W rating turns up active alternatives from the same family.