How TVS Diodes work

In virtually every electronic device, designers need to protect against ESD, EFT, surge and other overvoltage threats . TVS diodes provide a fast response, high withstand capability, long life, and low capacitance, making them ideal for protecting sensitive ICs with high speed interfaces.

A TVS diode is a p-n junction diode that is placed in parallel with the circuit to be protected. TVS diodes have three key voltage ratings: reverse standoff voltage, breakdown voltage, and clamping voltage. During normal operation, with the circuit at or below the diode’s reverse standoff voltage, the diode does not conduct, and its low leakage current and low capacitance make it virtually transparent to the circuit. When an overvoltage event occurs and voltage begins to rise in the circuit, the TVS diode enters breakdown and shunts the incoming current to ground, keeping the voltage seen by the circuit at the diode’s clamping voltage and preventing damage.

The construction and operating characteristics of TVS diodes provide designers many performance advantages over other protection devices. A TVS diode is tuned to combine a fast response time with low breakdown and clamping voltages relative to its reverse standoff voltage, meaning transients can be clamped quicker and closer to the normal operating voltage. The diodes are manufactured with large area p-n junctions that can repeatedly carry high currents and withstand high transient voltages, ensuring reliable operation and longer life. This construction also results in low capacitance, which allows TVS diodes to be used on high speed data lines without distorting the signal.

Eaton offers a wide variety of TVS diodes to protect against ESD, EFT, and surge events, from tiny chip size packages and arrays that minimize PCB area to larger surface mount and radial devices with higher reverse standoff voltages and current handling ratings in the tens of thousands of amps.

[Space_Lion]

Thanks for that extremely clear and concise explanation!

[hrithikjain]

How is this different from a MOV and a zener diode?

Secondly, the common circuits I see mostly use a MOV and a fusible resistor as the surge protection device

[AdrianGonzalez-iijb]

very naise! a lot of practical info in such a short video

[damensutherland]

If I got 1.5ke 120 tvs diode will it work around 200 v

[ovalwingnut]

GR8T information. I'm just Eaton™ this up! Thank you

[bobbauvian]

Can I just add TVS diode to an existing board for protection. how to choose the TVS? does it connect to circuit + dc to earth gnd?

[jonnymakers]

how do you make these videos..thank you

[clems]

So, not much different than a generic zener diode ?

[maihuutanmai]

Hello ladies and gentlements! I'm in Vietnam. I want to buy some TVS . how can i buy it. thank

[maihuutanmai]

hello everyone I want to buy some FXD recloser power board, how to contact? thank

[kumar]

do you have any components that can bypass a 12ms 50V transient? i'll even give you a profile -- 24VDC - 18VDC(in 1ms) - 50VDC(in 30ms) and sustains for 12ms - 24VDC(in 70ms) ..?ref- MIL 704D

[rahulpatelgujratahmedabad]

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