Active production, no end-of-life watch
The 1.5KE6.8CA-E3/73: This is a current-production part, not a last-time-buy or surplus scavenge.
1500W pulse, 10.5V clamp — what it means for your rail
The reverse standoff voltage is 5.8V, so it sits across a 5V or 5.8V rail and stays out of the way until a transient forces it into breakdown above 6.45V. The 10.5V clamp is the ceiling — any downstream IC rated for 12V or higher sees a safe voltage during the event. For a 5V logic rail, the margin is generous; for a 3.3V rail, this part is too aggressive and a lower-voltage TVS (e.g. 1.5KE6.8A, the unidirectional version) would be a better fit.
Through-hole DO-201AA — bench-friendly replacement
The DO-201AA axial-lead package (also known as DO-27) is a standard through-hole form factor for 1500W TVS diodes. The leads are 0.052-inch diameter, fitting a 0.040-inch PCB hole — easy to hand-solder or wave-solder. The operating temperature range spans -55°C to 175°C, covering everything from outdoor telecom cabinets to under-hood automotive modules. No power line protection feature — this is a pure transient suppressor, not a filter.
Bidirectional — one device, both polarities
A single bidirectional channel means the same device clamps positive and negative transients symmetrically. This simplifies BOM consolidation — one order code covers both polarities on a signal or power line, reducing inventory line items.