Specification Requirements for a TVS Diode

Question

I want to add a transient-voltage-suppression (TVS) diode to my design, but am getting confused about the specifics around Maximum Clamping Voltage, Maximum Peak Pulse Current and Minimum Breakdown Voltage.

My intention is to use the TVS to stop spikes in voltage causing damage to components (they are 5v RGB LEDs, which are sensitive to voltage increases)

I need the TVS to keep voltage under a maximum of 5.5v and be able to handle about 15Amps of current, though this is a maximum, current use could be anything from 1Amp to 15Amps (and could change quite rapidly).

So what are the specification I need to consider when selecting a TVS Diode?

Answer 1

TVS diodes are used for transient overvoltage protection. You should not use a TVS for clamping a voltage continously. It is only for protection against voltage transients,

A TVS diode is placed in parallel (not in series) with the power input that you want to protect, so, the 15A that you mention will not cross the TVS.

You can see a TVS as a big resistor (one lead of the resistor connected to the voltage and the other one connected to GND) which, when the voltage that is being monitored is normal, it puts an infinite resistence value, and when the voltage reaches its breakdown voltage threshold, the TVS changes its internal resistence to near 0Ohm achieving with this to drive the overvoltage to GND.

Breakdown voltage: This is a threshold. If the voltage that is being monitored reaches this value, the TVS will turn on (decreasing its resistence) and driving to GND the overvoltage detected.

Clamping voltage: When the breakdown voltage is reached, the TVS goes to its on state and it will try to clamp the voltaje to this value (clamping voltage). While the TVS is trying to do this, it will be responsible of absorving (drive to GND) all the current that is generated due to the difference of voltages [it's something like (Vtransient - Vclamp)/Rtvs].

Maximum Peak Pulse Current: This is the maximun current capacity that the TVS can drive before failing due to excessive heat dissipasion.

If you want to clamp the voltage to 5.5V continously, you should use other element and not a TVS. For example a zenner diode with its proper resistor.

If you are plannig to use the TVS only for protection against transients, so you should take into account these steps to choose the right one:

1. Choose a breakdown voltage higher than the maximum normal operation voltage. For example, if you voltage range is up to 5V, you could use a TVS whose minimum breakdown voltage is 5.5V. If you voltage range is up to 5.5V, you could use a TVS with breakdown of 6V.

2. After choosing the breakdown voltage, you will see that the TVS diodes that are available for your app is reduced.

3. Choose a TVS with a high heat dissipation capacity (Watts). This will prevent your TVS diode from being damaged when activated. This feature is important because the price and the size of the TVS depending on it.

4. Choose the TVS whose clamping voltage is the lower (from the TVSs that you will have to choose at this point).

Follow the previous steps in that specify order.

Also, consider the idea of adding a PTC resetteable fuse to your design. The pair TVS+PTC fuse is perfect. First, you should put the fuse in series with the input and then the TVS. The PTC fuse will reduce the amount of current that the TVS must dissipate.

I hope this helps.