SMCJ180 Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) Diode - Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The SMCJ180 is a unidirectional Zener-type transient voltage suppressor manufactured by Littelfuse Inc., designed for general-purpose overvoltage protection in surface-mount applications. The device features a 180V reverse standoff voltage rating with a maximum clamping voltage of 306.6V at peak pulse current. The SMCJ180 is classified as obsolete; therefore, identifying functionally equivalent active alternatives is necessary for ongoing design support and procurement continuity.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value	Unit
Voltage - Reverse Standoff (Typ)	180	V
Voltage - Breakdown (Min)	190.35	V
Voltage - Clamping (Max) @ Ipp	306.6	V
Current - Peak Pulse (10/1000µs)	5.1	A
Power - Peak Pulse	1500	W
Operating Temperature Range	-55 to 150	°C (TJ)
Mounting Type	Surface Mount	—
Package / Case	DO-214AB (SMC)	—
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant	—
Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL)	1 (Unlimited)	—

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution eligibility for the SMCJ180 is determined by the following critical parameters:

Voltage - Reverse Standoff (Typ): Must equal 180V
Voltage - Clamping (Max) @ Ipp: Must not exceed 306.6V (lower values acceptable)
Current - Peak Pulse (10/1000µs): Must meet or exceed 5.1A
Power - Peak Pulse: Must meet or exceed 1500W
Mounting Type: Must be Surface Mount
Package / Case: Must be DO-214AB (SMC)
Operating Temperature Range: Must span -55°C to 150°C minimum
RoHS Status: Must be ROHS3 Compliant

The substitute parts identified below satisfy these criteria and are classified as active products with current manufacturing status.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	SMCJ180 (Littelfuse)	SMCJ180A (Meritek)	TV15C181J-G (Comchip)	TV30C181J-G (Comchip)	SMCJ188A-TR (STMicroelectronics)
Voltage - Reverse Standoff (Typ)	180V	180V	180V	180V	188V
Voltage - Breakdown (Min)	190.35V	200V	200V	200V	209V
Voltage - Clamping (Max) @ Ipp	306.6V	291.6V	291.6V	291.6V	388V
Current - Peak Pulse (10/1000µs)	5.1A	5.14A	5.14A	10.29A	26A (8/20µs)
Power - Peak Pulse	1500W	1500W	1500W	3000W	1500W
Operating Temperature Range	-55 to 150°C	-55 to 150°C	-55 to 150°C	-55 to 150°C	-55 to 150°C
Mounting Type	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount
Package / Case	DO-214AB (SMC)	DO-214AB (SMC)	DO-214AB (SMC)	DO-214AB (SMC)	DO-214AB (SMC)
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant
Product Status	Obsolete	Active	Active	Active	Active

Engineering Selection Recommendations

Primary Substitutes (180V Standoff Voltage Class):

SMCJ180A (Meritek), TV15C181J-G (Comchip), and TV30C181J-G (Comchip) maintain the 180V reverse standoff voltage specification and are direct functional equivalents. All three are active products with ROHS3 compliance and unlimited moisture sensitivity rating. SMCJ180A and TV15C181J-G provide equivalent current handling (5.14A) and power dissipation (1500W) to the original SMCJ180. TV30C181J-G offers increased current capacity (10.29A) and power rating (3000W), suitable for applications requiring higher transient energy absorption.

Secondary Substitute (188V Standoff Voltage Class):

SMCJ188A-TR (STMicroelectronics) operates at 188V reverse standoff voltage, representing a 4.4% increase from the 180V specification. This part is active, ROHS3 compliant, and features significantly higher peak pulse current (26A at 8/20µs pulse width). Selection of SMCJ188A-TR is appropriate only when circuit design permits the higher standoff voltage and when enhanced transient suppression capability is required.

All identified substitutes are manufactured by established suppliers with active product status, ensuring long-term availability and supply chain stability.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can SMCJ180A be used as a direct replacement for SMCJ180?

A: Yes. SMCJ180A maintains identical reverse standoff voltage (180V), equivalent peak pulse current (5.14A vs. 5.1A), and matching power dissipation (1500W). Both use DO-214AB (SMC) packaging and operate across -55°C to 150°C. SMCJ180A is an active product, whereas SMCJ180 is obsolete.

Q: What is the difference between TV15C181J-G and TV30C181J-G?

A: Both maintain 180V reverse standoff voltage and 291.6V maximum clamping voltage. TV15C181J-G handles 5.14A peak pulse current at 1500W power dissipation. TV30C181J-G doubles the current capacity to 10.29A and power rating to 3000W. Selection depends on transient energy requirements in the application.

Q: Why does SMCJ188A-TR have a different standoff voltage?

A: SMCJ188A-TR operates at 188V reverse standoff voltage, 4.4% higher than the 180V SMCJ180 specification. This part is suitable only when circuit design tolerates the higher voltage threshold. The higher standoff voltage may reduce false triggering in certain applications but requires verification against circuit protection requirements.

Q: Are all substitute parts RoHS compliant?

A: Yes. All identified substitutes (SMCJ180A, TV15C181J-G, TV30C181J-G, and SMCJ188A-TR) are ROHS3 compliant with unlimited moisture sensitivity rating (MSL 1), meeting environmental and regulatory requirements equivalent to the original SMCJ180.

Q: Can I use a substitute with higher peak pulse current?

A: Yes. TV30C181J-G and SMCJ188A-TR provide higher current capacity than the original SMCJ180. Higher current ratings do not degrade performance in applications designed for lower current; however, verify that clamping voltage and standoff voltage specifications align with circuit protection requirements.

Q: What packaging is used for these TVS diodes?

A: All parts use DO-214AB (SMC) surface-mount packaging, enabling direct PCB layout compatibility. SMCJ180A and SMCJ188A-TR are supplied in Tape & Reel (TR) format for automated assembly; TV15C181J-G and TV30C181J-G are also supplied in Tape & Reel format.

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