# TVS diode dissipation help

This board has been very helpful to me, I am stuck with a small problem again. The datasheet is here.

Part name: SMDJ series.

I have a pulse train coming from an ignition system, the power I calculate is about 4 Watts of Pavg. When I refer to the datasheet above, we can see it can withstand about 6.5W of Pavg. But when I calculate the Tj, it exceeds, I get $75C\times4 = 300C$ above ambient. Which spec should I rely on: Pavg as stated by manufacturer, or Tj as calculated?

• It should be implicit that you have to meet all of the maximum ratings simultaneously. In other words, the device can handle 6.5W of power only if you keep it below its maximum temperature (by heatsinking it or something). – Dave Tweed May 16 '14 at 17:44
• In any case you have to extrapolate VBR (clamping)for other than 25degC junction temperatures, using formula like ΔVBR=αT(VBR)*(Tj-25)*VBR, as well as the new peak power. – GR Tech May 17 '14 at 3:22
• Thank all for the valuable comments. I find other Leaded part showing dissipation spec TL @75C is 6.5W datsheet here ; littelfuse.com/~/media/electronics/datasheets/tvs_diodes/…. In figure 6, does this means it can dissipate with deration for leads lengths being atleast 10mm each side. – Adi May 17 '14 at 8:45
• I get 4W*15C=70C aabove ambient, is it ambient ?. – Adi May 17 '14 at 8:51
• @GR TEch , how do I find αT , its not given in datasheet. – Adi May 17 '14 at 10:14