SMCJ170CA-13 Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The SMCJ170CA-13 is a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) diode manufactured by Diodes Incorporated, designed for general-purpose overvoltage protection in surface-mount applications. This bidirectional Zener diode operates with a reverse standoff voltage of 170V and provides clamping at 275V with a peak pulse current rating of 5.5A. The part is currently discontinued at DiGi Electronics, necessitating identification of functionally equivalent alternatives from active manufacturers that maintain the same electrical and mechanical specifications.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value
Voltage - Reverse Standoff (Typ)	170V
Voltage - Breakdown (Min)	189V
Voltage - Clamping (Max) @ Ipp	275V
Current - Peak Pulse (10/1000µs)	5.5A
Power - Peak Pulse	1500W
Package / Case	DO-214AB, SMC
Mounting Type	Surface Mount
Operating Temperature Range	-55°C ~ 150°C (TJ)
Type	Zener
Bidirectional Channels	1

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution eligibility is determined by strict equivalence across the following critical parameters:

Voltage - Reverse Standoff: 170V
Voltage - Breakdown (Min): 189V
Voltage - Clamping (Max) @ Ipp: 275V
Package / Case: DO-214AB, SMC
Mounting Type: Surface Mount
Bidirectional Channels: 1
Type: Zener

Parts are grouped into two categories:

Direct Equivalents (1:1 Substitution): Parts maintaining identical peak pulse current (5.5A) and power dissipation (1500W). These include SMCJ170CA-13-F (Diodes Incorporated), SMCJ170CA (Fairchild Semiconductor), and SMCJ170CA-TP (Micro Commercial Co).

Higher-Rated Alternatives (Uprated Substitutes): Parts with identical voltage specifications but elevated current and power ratings. These include 5.0SMDJ170CA (18.2A, 5000W), 5.0SMDJ170CA-T7 (18.2A, 5000W), SMDJ170CA (11A, 3000W), SMDJ170CA-T7 (10.9A, 3000W), and SMLJ170CA (11A, 3000W). Uprated parts are electrically compatible and provide enhanced transient protection capability.

Parameter Comparison

Manufacturer Part Number	Manufacturer	Voltage - Reverse Standoff (Typ)	Voltage - Breakdown (Min)	Voltage - Clamping (Max) @ Ipp	Current - Peak Pulse (10/1000µs)	Power - Peak Pulse	Package / Case	Operating Temperature	Product Status	RoHS Status
SMCJ170CA-13	Diodes Incorporated	170V	189V	275V	5.5A	1500W	DO-214AB, SMC	-55°C ~ 150°C	Discontinued	RoHS non-compliant
SMCJ170CA-13-F	Diodes Incorporated	170V	189V	275V	5.5A	1500W	DO-214AB, SMC	-55°C ~ 150°C	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
SMCJ170CA	Fairchild Semiconductor	170V	189V	275V	5.5A	1500W	DO-214AB, SMC	-55°C ~ 150°C	Active	Not specified
SMCJ170CA-TP	Micro Commercial Co	170V	189V	275V	5.5A	1500W	DO-214AB, SMC	-55°C ~ 175°C	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
5.0SMDJ170CA	MDE Semiconductor Inc	170V	189V	275V	18.2A	5000W	DO-214AB, SMC	-55°C ~ 150°C	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
5.0SMDJ170CA-T7	Littelfuse	170V	189V	275V	18.2A	5000W	DO-214AB, SMC	-65°C ~ 150°C	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
SMDJ170CA	Alpha & Omega Semiconductor Inc.	170V	189V	275V	11A	3000W	DO-214AB, SMC	-55°C ~ 150°C	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
SMDJ170CA-T7	Littelfuse Inc.	170V	189V	275V	10.9A	3000W	DO-214AB, SMC	-65°C ~ 150°C	Active	ROHS3 Compliant
SMLJ170CA	Bourns Inc.	170V	189V	275V	11A	3000W	DO-214AB, SMC	-55°C ~ 150°C	Active	ROHS3 Compliant

Engineering Selection Recommendations

Primary Recommendation: SMCJ170CA-13-F (Diodes Incorporated) is the direct equivalent replacement. It maintains identical electrical specifications and package configuration while offering active product status and ROHS3 compliance, addressing the discontinuation of the original part.

Alternative Direct Equivalents: SMCJ170CA (Fairchild Semiconductor) and SMCJ170CA-TP (Micro Commercial Co) provide equivalent performance. SMCJ170CA-TP offers extended operating temperature range to 175°C and ROHS3 compliance.

Uprated Alternatives: When circuit design permits higher transient current handling, uprated options provide enhanced protection margins. SMLJ170CA (Bourns Inc.) with 11A rating and 3000W power dissipation is widely available (44,552 units in stock). The 5.0SMDJ series (18.2A, 5000W) from MDE Semiconductor and Littelfuse provides maximum protection capability for demanding applications.

All recommended substitutes maintain the DO-214AB (SMC) package and surface-mount configuration, ensuring mechanical compatibility with existing PCB layouts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can SMCJ170CA-13-F directly replace SMCJ170CA-13?

A: Yes. SMCJ170CA-13-F is a direct 1:1 replacement with identical voltage ratings (170V standoff, 275V clamp), current rating (5.5A), power dissipation (1500W), and DO-214AB package. The primary difference is product status (active vs. discontinued) and RoHS compliance.

Q: What is the difference between direct equivalents and uprated substitutes?

A: Direct equivalents (SMCJ170CA-13-F, SMCJ170CA, SMCJ170CA-TP) maintain the 5.5A peak pulse current and 1500W power rating. Uprated substitutes (SMDJ170CA, SMLJ170CA, 5.0SMDJ170CA series) provide higher current and power ratings while maintaining identical voltage specifications. Uprated parts are backward-compatible and provide enhanced transient suppression.

Q: Are all substitute parts in the same package?

A: Yes. All listed substitutes use the DO-214AB (SMC) surface-mount package, ensuring direct PCB compatibility without layout modifications.

Q: Which substitute offers the best availability?

A: SMLJ170CA (Bourns Inc.) has the highest inventory level at 44,552 units in stock. SMCJ170CA (Fairchild Semiconductor) has 15,696 units available.

Q: Do all substitutes meet RoHS requirements?

A: All active substitutes listed are ROHS3 compliant. The original SMCJ170CA-13 is RoHS non-compliant; SMCJ170CA-13-F addresses this with ROHS3 compliance.

Q: Can I use an uprated part in place of the original specification?

A: Yes. Uprated parts with higher current and power ratings are electrically compatible and provide equivalent or superior transient voltage suppression. Circuit performance is not degraded by using a higher-rated TVS diode with identical voltage specifications.

Q: What is the operating temperature range consideration?

A: The original part operates -55°C to 150°C. Most substitutes maintain this range. SMCJ170CA-TP, 5.0SMDJ170CA-T7, and SMDJ170CA-T7 extend the lower limit to -65°C, providing wider temperature coverage for demanding environments.

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