P6KE Series TVS Diode Cross-Reference and EOL Replacements: 2024 Selection Guide

Bottom Line: The P6KE series 600 W TVS diodes from STMicroelectronics — including P6KE150A, P6KE200A, P6KE150CA, and P6KE200CA — are End-of-Life and increasingly scarce from original production. Engineers searching for "P6KE200A equivalent" or "P6KE150A replacement" should cross-reference to in-stock multi-source alternatives such as the P6KE200ARL (tape-and-reel variant, same die), Vishay-sourced equivalents, and HY Electronic Corp stock. The three non-negotiable selection parameters are standoff voltage, polarity (unidirectional "A" vs. bidirectional "CA"), and peak pulse power rated at 600 W minimum at the 10/1000 µs waveform. Use FindMyChip's quote platform to compare real-time pricing and availability across 200+ verified distributors before committing to a BOM change.

Why the P6KE Series Is Going End-of-Life

STMicroelectronics introduced the P6KE series in the axial through-hole DO-15 (DO-204AC) package as a 600 W peak-pulse-power TVS family. The series covers standoff voltages from 5.8 V to 376 V and has served automotive, industrial power conversion, and telecom equipment for over three decades. Production was robust through the early 2010s, with the series qualifying under IEC 61000-4-5 surge immunity and MIL-STD-1521 compliance in many designs.

ST has progressively shifted manufacturing capacity toward surface-mount equivalents (the P6SMB and P6SMC series) and SMA/SMB-packaged high-density alternatives. As a result, many DO-15 P6KE part numbers have been placed on Last-Time-Buy (LTB) or full End-of-Life (EOL) status. The impact on procurement teams is concrete: lead times that were 4–8 weeks have grown to 26–52 weeks or become open-ended, and catalog prices have risen 30–60% on secondary-market stock. Any BOM carrying P6KE150A or P6KE200A faces sourcing risk before the next production run.

The good news is that the P6KE electrical specification — standoff voltage per part-number suffix, 600 W peak pulse power at 10/1000 µs, DO-15 footprint — is an IEC-standardized commodity format. Multiple manufacturers including Vishay, HY Electronic Corp, Taiwan Semiconductor, and others produce pin-compatible equivalents. The cross-reference challenge is mainly one of documentation and qualification, not engineering.

Key Selection Parameters for P6KE Replacements

1. Standoff Voltage (V_WM)

The standoff voltage is the maximum continuous DC voltage a TVS can sustain without triggering avalanche conduction. It is the most critical parameter when selecting a replacement because it directly determines whether the device will interfere with normal circuit operation.

The P6KE part number encodes the standoff voltage numerically: P6KE150A = 150 V standoff, P6KE200A = 200 V standoff. Choosing a substitute with too low a standoff causes the TVS to conduct during normal operation, clamping the supply rail and potentially damaging the device. Too high a standoff increases the clamping voltage and may expose downstream components to unsafe voltages during a transient event. Match the standoff voltage exactly; no other specification trade-off compensates for a mismatch here.

2. Polarity: Unidirectional (A Suffix) vs. Bidirectional (CA Suffix)

The suffix "A" designates a unidirectional TVS diode. The suffix "CA" designates a bidirectional TVS. Unidirectional TVS diodes clamp transients in one polarity only and are the correct choice for DC supply rails where voltage transients do not swing negative. Bidirectional TVS diodes clamp in both polarities and are required wherever transients can be positive or negative — AC power lines, motor drive lines, RS-485 data buses, and similar applications.

The DO-15 package dimensions are identical for "A" and "CA" variants, so this is a silent substitution error if not caught at the schematic review stage. Replacing a P6KE150CA with a P6KE150A on an AC or data line will leave the line unprotected on the negative half-cycle. Always confirm polarity requirement from the circuit schematic, not just the BOM part number.

3. Peak Pulse Power (P_PP) at the 10/1000 µs Waveform

The P6KE series is rated at 600 W peak pulse power using the 10/1000 µs waveform (10 µs rise, 1000 µs decay) as defined by IEC 60060-1 and referenced by IEC 61000-4-5 surge immunity testing. This waveform is the standard for telecom and industrial surge qualification.

Some secondary-market P6KE look-alikes are rated only at the 8/20 µs waveform — a shorter, less stressful current pulse used for lightning surge testing per IEC 61000-4-5 Mode 2. A device rated 600 W at 8/20 µs will typically derate significantly at 10/1000 µs due to the longer energy absorption time. Verify that the substitute's datasheet explicitly states the 10/1000 µs waveform. Legitimate P6KE equivalents from Vishay and HY Electronic Corp specify this; generic secondary-market lots may not.

4. Breakdown Voltage Tolerance (V_BR at I_T)

The nominal breakdown voltage tolerance for P6KE "A" suffix parts is ±5%; for non-suffix variants it is ±10%. P6KE150A has a minimum V_BR of 142.5 V and maximum of 157.5 V at the test current I_T = 1 mA. P6KE200A breaks down between 190 V and 210 V at the same test current.

For precision clamping applications — such as protecting a 150 V DC bus where the maximum steady-state voltage is 155 V — the ±5% tolerance window leaves only 2.5 V of margin below the minimum V_BR. In these cases, confirm that the multi-source substitute also holds ±5% tolerance and not a wider ±10% tolerance that could cause nuisance triggering.

5. Maximum Clamping Voltage (V_C) at Peak Pulse Current (I_PP)

At peak pulse current I_PP, the TVS exhibits a forward voltage called the clamping voltage V_C. This value must remain below the absolute maximum voltage rating of the protected downstream circuit or component. P6KE150A clamps at 265 V maximum at I_PP = 2.26 A. P6KE200A clamps at 353 V maximum at I_PP = 1.70 A.

Different manufacturers' internal silicon resistance (dynamic impedance) can shift V_C by 5–10% even within the same standoff voltage and power class. If clamping voltage budget is tight, compare the specific substitute's V_C value in its datasheet against the ST original. A higher V_C exposes protected circuits to more stress; a lower V_C is generally preferable if all other parameters match.

6. Package Footprint and Lead Pitch

The standard P6KE package is DO-15 (also called DO-204AC). Key dimensions: body diameter approximately 5.4 mm, body length approximately 7.6 mm, standard lead pitch 10.2 mm (wide-spacing variant 7.62 mm is also common). All multi-source equivalents referenced in this guide use DO-15 unless otherwise noted.

If migrating to surface-mount equivalents during a PCB revision, the two nearest SMT packages are:

SMB (DO-214AA): Physically smaller, rated 600 W — suitable for low-to-mid power node applications.
SMC (DO-214AB): Larger footprint, rated up to 1500 W — conservative uprating with a PCB layout change.

7. Operating Temperature Range and AEC-Q101 Qualification

The P6KE series operates from –55 °C to +150 °C junction temperature, consistent with automotive and industrial requirements. Automotive designs referencing AEC-Q101 (the Automotive Electronics Council discrete qualification standard) must verify that any substitute carries an explicit AEC-Q101 qualification certificate covering the specific part number, temperature grade, and package.

Vishay's P6KE-E3 series variants carry AEC-Q101 qualification. HY Electronic Corp's P6KE equivalents are typically industrial grade (–40 °C to +125 °C) and may require additional derating in underhood environments where junction temperatures approach 150 °C. Request the full qualification report from the distributor, not just a statement of compliance.

P6KE Cross-Reference Table: Obsolete ST Parts to In-Stock Equivalents

Original (ST, EOL)	Standoff Voltage	Polarity	Max Clamp Voltage	In-Stock Alternative	Notes
P6KE150A	150 V	Unidirectional	265 V @ 2.26 A	P6KE150A (multi-source)	HY Electronic Corp and secondary authorized sources
P6KE150CA	150 V	Bidirectional	265 V @ 2.26 A	P6KE150CA	Vishay and HY sources available; verify 10/1000 µs rating
P6KE200A	200 V	Unidirectional	353 V @ 1.70 A	P6KE200A or P6KE200ARL	P6KE200ARL is tape-and-reel; same die and electrical spec
P6KE200CA	200 V	Bidirectional	353 V @ 1.70 A	P6KE200CA	Check distributor documentation for 10/1000 µs confirmation
P6KE180A	180 V	Unidirectional	319 V @ 1.88 A	P6KE180A	Multi-source available; confirm V_C budget for protected circuit

All MPNs in the "In-Stock Alternative" column are verified in the FindMyChip database. Use FindMyChip search with the exact MPN to see real-time stock and pricing across multiple distributors simultaneously.

Selection Decision Flowchart

The decision logic for P6KE replacement qualification follows four branches:

Branch 1 — Direct DC rail protection, unidirectional required:

If your design uses P6KE150A or P6KE200A on a DC supply rail, the first option is a direct pin-compatible substitute. Check P6KE150A or P6KE200ARL availability on FindMyChip. Confirm the source is authorized or at minimum provides a lot traceability document. If stock is insufficient at a single source, split the order across two distributors — P6KE parts are commodity and multi-sourcing is low risk when documentation is verified.

Branch 2 — AC line or data bus, bidirectional required:

If your design uses P6KE150CA or P6KE200CA on an AC line, motor drive bus, or RS-485/data interface, source P6KE150CA or P6KE200CA explicitly — do not substitute with the unidirectional "A" variant. HY Electronic Corp and Vishay produce CA suffix equivalents in DO-15. Always verify the polarity from the datasheet front page before approving any lot.

Branch 3 — Adjacent voltage node:

If the original BOM calls for a voltage node not in the table above (e.g., P6KE160A, P6KE220CA), use FindMyChip parametric search filtered to TVS diode category, standoff voltage matching your node, and DO-15 package. The P6KE180A and P6KE220CA available in the database cover adjacent nodes.

Branch 4 — Migrating to SMT:

If a PCB revision is in scope, consider migrating to an SMB or SMC footprint TVS. The P6SMB150A (SMB, 600 W) and P6SMB200A are the SMT equivalents. For a conservative uprating, the SMC-footprint 1.5SMC series offers 1500 W peak at the same standoff voltages. Submit a multi-line quote request to compare pricing across package options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is P6KE200A actually discontinued, or just hard to find?

STMicroelectronics has issued formal End-of-Life notices for multiple DO-15 P6KE variants, meaning ST will not restock those part numbers after existing inventory is exhausted. However, the same IEC-standardized electrical specification is independently manufactured by Vishay, HY Electronic Corp, Taiwan Semiconductor, and others. "EOL from ST" does not eliminate the part number — it shifts the supply base to multi-source equivalents. These alternatives are fully interchangeable when standoff voltage, polarity suffix, and 600 W/10/1000 µs rating are confirmed.

Q: What is the difference between P6KE200A and P6KE200ARL?

The "RL" suffix indicates tape-and-reel packaging. The die, electrical characteristics, breakdown voltage tolerance, clamping voltage, and DO-15 body dimensions are identical between P6KE200A and P6KE200ARL. The reel format is required for automated radial insertion machines used in high-volume through-hole assembly. For prototyping and small-volume manual assembly, bulk-pack P6KE200A is functionally interchangeable. When specifying for production, confirm which packaging format your contract manufacturer's line requires.

Q: Can I use a P6KE180A in place of a P6KE150A if 150 V stock is unavailable?

This is a valid workaround only with careful circuit analysis. A P6KE180A has a 180 V standoff and clamps at up to 319 V at peak current, versus the P6KE150A's 265 V maximum clamp. On a 150 V DC rail, the P6KE180A will not conduct at steady-state — that is safe. However, the protected circuit must tolerate 319 V during a surge, versus 265 V with the original device. If downstream components have an absolute maximum rating above 319 V, the substitution is acceptable. If they do not, the higher standoff device leaves the circuit inadequately protected. Do not approve this substitution without checking every component in the protection chain.

Q: What does AEC-Q101 mean and do P6KE replacements carry it?

AEC-Q101 is a qualification standard published by the Automotive Electronics Council for discrete semiconductors (diodes, transistors, thyristors). It mandates a set of accelerated reliability tests — including high-temperature reverse bias, temperature cycling, and ESD — to ensure components are suitable for automotive applications over a 15-year service life. Vishay's P6KE-E3 series variants are AEC-Q101 qualified. Many multi-source P6KE equivalents are not. If your application is automotive, explicitly specify AEC-Q101 in the purchase order and request the qualification certificate from the distributor.

Q: How do I verify I am not receiving counterfeit P6KE TVS diodes?

The P6KE DO-15 package is a commodity format that is frequently counterfeited in the secondary market, particularly for hard-to-find EOL parts. Key authentication checks: request a certificate of conformance (CoC) and date code from the seller; request a lot-level country of origin documentation; inspect the body marking under magnification for font inconsistencies; perform an electrical parameter verification (breakdown voltage at I_T) on a sample from the lot. FindMyChip's 5-point supplier authentication process screens distributors for traceability compliance before they are listed on the platform.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The P6KE series 600 W TVS diodes are an established IEC-standard component with a clear cross-reference path to multi-source in-stock equivalents. The sourcing challenge posed by STMicroelectronics' EOL transition is solvable — provided procurement teams verify three critical parameters: standoff voltage, polarity, and 600 W peak pulse power at the 10/1000 µs waveform.

FindMyChip connects you to 200+ verified distributors across the global supply chain, with 5-point authentication on every listed lot and 24-hour quote response. To source P6KE150A, P6KE200A, P6KE150CA, P6KE200CA, or any other P6KE variant, submit a request for quote with your quantity and delivery requirements.

Explore the full P6KE family on FindMyChip:

Use FindMyChip parametric search to filter the complete P6KE catalog by standoff voltage, polarity, and package for any voltage node not listed above.