As electronics continue to play a crucial role in our daily lives, the need for efficient protection grows. Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) diodes have become a solution that provides protection against high voltage transients. The SMCJ26A-TR, a member of the SMCJ series, is a unidirectional TVS diode that has a reverse stand-off voltage of 26V. In this article, we’ll discuss what TVS diodes are, the benefits of SMCJ26A-TR TVS diodes over traditional protection measures, and how to use them in your circuit design.

What are Transient Voltage Suppressor Diodes?

A Transient Voltage Suppressor diode is an electronic component that can protect your circuit from electrical transients. These are peak voltages that are beyond the operating range of a circuit. Transients are short-lived and often cause irreversible damage to the treated circuit. TVS diodes are designed to shunt the unwanted energy to ground, away from the circuit. TVS diodes are efficient in providing ESD (ElectroStatic Discharge) protection in addition to their capability to protect against larger-voltage surges.

Why Use SMCJ26A-TR TVS Diodes?

The SMCJ26A-TR is part of the SMCJ series, which is designed to provide high power protection in various electronic applications. These diodes offer several advantages over conventional protection approaches like fuses and metal oxide varistors (MOVs).

The following are some significant benefits of using the SMCJ26A-TR:

1. Fast-Acting Protection

SMCJ26A-TR TVS diodes offer fast-acting protection as they respond rapidly to transient voltage spikes, thus ensuring that your sensitive electronics remain safe from damage

2. High Energy Dissipation Capability

The high energy dissipation capability of SMCJ26A-TR TVS diodes enables them to absorb sizable amounts of energy much faster than other protection measures.

3. Low Clamping Voltage

The SMCJ26A-TR TVS diode has a low clamping voltage, which is essential in reducing the risk of damage by keeping the voltage across the protected device low.

4. Minimal Leakage Current

Compared to other TVS diodes, the SMCJ26A-TR provides minimal leakage current, reducing the risk of the diode heating up and compromising other circuit components' reliability.

How to Use SMCJ26A-TR TVS Diodes in Your Circuit Design

The SMCJ26A-TR is a unidirectional TVS diode, which means that it can only shunt voltages moving in one direction. To protect against voltage transients in both directions, a circuit designer has to consider using a bidirectional TVS diode.

Here are some tips on how to use the SMCJ26A-TR TVS diode in your circuit design:

1. Identify the Location of the Circuit Element to Protect

Identify the location in your circuit where you want to protect against voltage surges. The SMCJ26A-TR diode should be installed as close to the sensitive electronics as possible.

2. Decide on the Value of Your Series Resistor

Suppose your circuitry has a DC voltage that exceeds the reverse breakdown voltage of the TVS, in that case, it is important to insert a series resistor to avoid power dissipation. The value of the series resistor can be calculated using Ohm's law.

3. Select the Right SMCJ26A-TR TVS Diode

Ensure that you select the right SMCJ26A-TR TVS diode that can handle the highest possible voltage that your circuit will be subjected to without being damaged. Otherwise, it will become a weak point, and your circuitry will still be vulnerable to voltage transients.

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you understand the working principle of SMCJ26A-TR TVS diodes in your circuit design. These relatively affordable components protect your circuitry from unexpected voltage surges and spikes and represent an excellent solution to overall circuit quality and reliability. Compared to other protection measures such as fuses and MOVs, TVS diodes offer faster-acting and higher energy dissipation capability, among other benefits. By following the design tips we’ve shared, one can easily implement SMCJ26A-TR TVS diodes in their circuit design, contributing to a safer and more reliable electronics experience.