1500W peak pulse, 16.2V standoff — TransZorb Zener clamp
The 1.5KE20-E3/73: The 16.2 V standoff suits 12 V nominal rails that see transients up to the clamp threshold; the 1500 W rating means it absorbs a single high-energy surge without failing short.
Obsolete — last-time-buy window closed
Vishay has marked the 1.5KE20-/73 as Obsolete. No official successor order code is recorded. For a BOM that still calls out this exact part number, the procurement path is a spot buy against available inventory.
Package and storage — axial DO-201AA, tape and box
The DO-201AA axial leaded body is a standard through-hole footprint for high-energy TVS diodes. Supplied in Tape & Box (TB) packaging, the leads are formed for automatic insertion but the reel quantity is not specified here. Store the reels in a dry environment — the axial leads are not moisture-sensitive, but the box should be kept sealed to avoid lead oxidation over long shelf storage.