1N5238C-TAP Zener Diode Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The 1N5238C-TAP is an 8.7 V zener diode manufactured by Vishay General Semiconductor - Diodes Division, rated for 500 mW power dissipation with ±2% voltage tolerance. This through-hole component in DO-35 package is classified as Active and meets AEC-Q101 automotive qualification standards. The part is RoHS3 compliant with unlimited moisture sensitivity rating (MSL 1).

Substitute parts are identified when equivalent electrical performance can be maintained within the specified parameter ranges for zener voltage, power rating, impedance, and thermal operating conditions. Alternative sources and package configurations may be required based on application constraints and inventory availability.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value	Unit
Zener Voltage (Nom)	8.7	V
Voltage Tolerance	±2%	—
Power - Max	500	mW
Impedance (Max)	8	Ohms
Current - Reverse Leakage @ Vr	3	µA @ 6.5 V
Voltage - Forward (Max) @ If	1.1	V @ 200 mA
Operating Temperature	175	°C
Mounting Type	Through Hole	—
Package / Case	DO-204AH (DO-35)	—

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution eligibility for the 1N5238C-TAP is determined by the following critical parameters:

Electrical Equivalence Criteria:

Zener voltage nominal value: 8.7 V
Power dissipation rating: minimum 500 mW
Impedance (Zzt): maximum 8 Ohms
Reverse leakage current: 3 µA @ 6.5 V
Forward voltage: 1.1 V @ 200 mA

Mechanical & Packaging Criteria:

Mounting type: Through Hole preferred for direct replacement
Package: DO-35 (DO-204AH) for pin-compatible substitution
Alternative packages (DO-213AA) require circuit board redesign

Compliance & Status Criteria:

Product Status: Active
RoHS compliance: RoHS3 preferred
Moisture Sensitivity: MSL 1 (Unlimited)

Substitute parts are grouped into two categories: Direct Through-Hole Replacements (same package, same mounting) and Functional Equivalents (same electrical performance, different package requiring board modification).

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	1N5238C-TAP (Main)	1N5238B (Microchip)	1N5238B TR PBFREE (Central Semi)	1N4102 (Microchip)
Manufacturer	Vishay	Microchip Technology	Central Semiconductor Corp	Microchip Technology
Zener Voltage (Nom)	8.7 V	8.7 V	8.7 V	8.7 V
Voltage Tolerance	±2%	±5%	±5%	±5%
Power - Max	500 mW	500 mW	500 mW	400 mW
Impedance (Max)	8 Ohms	8 Ohms	8 Ohms	200 Ohms
Current - Reverse Leakage @ Vr	3 µA @ 6.5 V	3 µA @ 6.5 V	3 µA @ 6.5 V	1 µA @ 6.61 V
Voltage - Forward (Max) @ If	1.1 V @ 200 mA	1.5 V @ 200 mA	1.1 V @ 200 mA	1 V @ 200 mA
Operating Temperature	175°C	-65°C ~ 175°C	-65°C ~ 200°C	-65°C ~ 200°C
Mounting Type	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole	Surface Mount
Package / Case	DO-204AH (DO-35)	DO-204AH (DO-35)	DO-35 (DO-204AH)	DO-213AA
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant	RoHS non-compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	Not specified
Inventory (Pcs)	1035	3100	9950	1491

Engineering Selection Recommendations

Category 1: Direct Pin-Compatible Through-Hole Replacements

1N5238B TR PBFREE (Central Semiconductor Corp) is the primary substitute for 1N5238C-TAP. Both components share identical electrical parameters (8.7 V nominal, 500 mW, 8 Ohms impedance, 3 µA reverse leakage), matching package configuration (DO-35), and through-hole mounting. The 1N5238B TR PBFREE maintains RoHS3 compliance and extends operating temperature range to 200°C. Voltage tolerance widens from ±2% to ±5%, and forward voltage matches at 1.1 V @ 200 mA. This part requires no circuit board modification.

1N5238B (Microchip Technology) provides electrical equivalence with identical zener voltage, power rating, and impedance. Through-hole DO-35 package enables direct socket replacement. However, forward voltage increases to 1.5 V @ 200 mA (versus 1.1 V for the main part), and RoHS compliance status is non-compliant. Operating temperature range extends to 175°C minimum. This part is suitable when forward voltage tolerance permits the 0.4 V increase.

Category 2: Functional Equivalent with Package Modification

1N4102 (Microchip Technology) maintains 8.7 V zener voltage but operates at reduced 400 mW power rating (versus 500 mW). Impedance increases significantly to 200 Ohms (versus 8 Ohms), indicating different dynamic characteristics. Surface-mount DO-213AA package requires circuit board redesign and assembly process change from through-hole to SMD. This part is suitable only when power dissipation requirements are ≤400 mW and impedance tolerance permits the 25× increase.

Compliance Considerations:

Automotive qualification (AEC-Q101) is specified only for 1N5238C-TAP; substitute parts lack this certification
RoHS3 compliance is maintained by 1N5238C-TAP and 1N5238B TR PBFREE; 1N5238B is non-compliant
All parts share REACH Unaffected and EAR99 ECCN status

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can 1N5238B TR PBFREE replace 1N5238C-TAP in automotive applications?

A: 1N5238B TR PBFREE provides electrical and mechanical compatibility with identical zener voltage (8.7 V), power rating (500 mW), impedance (8 Ohms), and through-hole DO-35 package. However, the main part carries AEC-Q101 automotive qualification while the substitute does not. Substitution is permissible only if automotive qualification is not a contractual or design requirement.

Q2: What is the impact of ±5% voltage tolerance versus ±2% tolerance?

A: The main part 1N5238C-TAP guarantees zener voltage within ±2% of 8.7 V (8.53 V to 8.87 V). Substitute parts with ±5% tolerance operate within 8.27 V to 9.13 V. Applications requiring tighter voltage regulation must account for this 3× wider tolerance band. Circuits with voltage-sensitive loads may experience performance degradation.

Q3: Why does 1N4102 have 200 Ohms impedance versus 8 Ohms for other parts?

A: Impedance (Zzt) represents dynamic resistance in the zener breakdown region. The 1N4102's 200 Ohms impedance indicates significantly higher voltage variation under load current changes. This part is unsuitable for applications requiring stable voltage regulation across varying load conditions. Use 1N4102 only in applications tolerant of ±25 mV voltage ripple per 1 mA load change.

Q4: Can 1N4102 be used as a direct replacement?

A: No. The 1N4102 differs in three critical parameters: (1) Power rating reduced to 400 mW, (2) Impedance increased to 200 Ohms, and (3) Package changed to surface-mount DO-213AA. Direct socket replacement is not possible. Circuit board redesign and assembly process modification are required.

Q5: What is the significance of forward voltage differences (1.1 V vs. 1.5 V)?

A: Forward voltage (Vf) affects reverse-biased leakage current behavior. The 1N5238B's 1.5 V forward voltage (versus 1.1 V for main part and 1N5238B TR PBFREE) indicates different semiconductor material or doping profile. In reverse-biased operation, this difference is negligible. In forward-biased transient conditions, the 0.4 V increase may affect circuit response time by microseconds.

Q6: Is RoHS compliance mandatory for substitution?

A: RoHS3 compliance is specified for the main part (1N5238C-TAP) and 1N5238B TR PBFREE. The 1N5238B is RoHS non-compliant. Substitution with non-compliant parts is permissible only if the end application is exempt from RoHS regulations or if RoHS compliance is not contractually required.

Q7: Which substitute part has the highest inventory availability?

A: 1N5238B TR PBFREE (Central Semiconductor Corp) has 9950 pieces in stock, compared to 3100 for 1N5238B and 1491 for 1N4102. For supply chain continuity, 1N5238B TR PBFREE is the preferred substitute when electrical and mechanical compatibility requirements are met.

Q8: Can operating temperature range affect substitution decisions?

A: The main part operates to 175°C maximum. Both 1N5238B and 1N5238B TR PBFREE extend to 175°C and 200°C respectively. If the application operates near 175°C, the extended range of substitute parts provides thermal margin. Conversely, if application temperature is ≤150°C, all parts are equivalent in this parameter.

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