1500 W peak pulse in a through-hole axial package
The 1.5KE16HE3/54: It clamps at 23.5 V maximum while conducting 63.8 A peak pulse current, with a 12.9 V reverse standoff voltage that keeps it out of conduction during normal 12 V automotive bus operation. The DO-201AA (DO-27) axial leaded package suits through-hole assembly on boards that see vibration or thermal cycling — the leads absorb mechanical stress the way a surface-mount joint cannot.
AEC-Q101 qualification and automotive deployment
This part carries AEC-Q101 automotive qualification, meaning it has passed the stress tests (temperature cycling, high-temperature reverse bias, ESD) required for Tier-1 automotive ECU programs. The TransZorb series is Vishay's branded TVS family, optimized for repetitive surge clamping in 12 V and 24 V vehicle electrical systems. With a 14.4 V minimum breakdown voltage, the 1.5KE16HE3/54 triggers before the 23.5 V clamping ceiling, protecting downstream silicon from load-dump and inductive-load transients. The 1500 W rating at 10/1000 µs gives enough energy headroom for alternator field-decay events common in heavy truck and off-highway gear.
Obsolete — sourcing through independent channels
Vishay has marked the 1.5KE16HE3/54 as obsolete. The part remains usable for existing BOM positions that cannot spin a board for a different package. For a new design, a functionally equivalent TVS in the same DO-201 package with matching 12.9 V standoff and 1500 W rating would require a board-level qualification re-run. The AEC-Q101 traceability on this lot means the parts carry the same reliability screening the original OEM spec demanded.