LC26A Circuit Protection

LC26A Application Field and Working Principle

The low capacitance transient voltage suppressor (LC26A) is a type of TVS diode used in electronic circuit design and installation. They are designed to protect delicate components from over-voltage and transient surge events. The term TVS diode stands for transient voltage suppressor and is used to describe a variety of components that provide both over-voltage protection and surge protection for vulnerable circuits. By reducing the amount of voltage spikes and surges in a circuit, TVS diodes can also reduce the amount of current draw and thus reduce power consumption.

Application Field

LC26A TVS Diodes are typically used in the fields of electronics, telecommunications, industrial and consumer markets. In the telecom and data communication industry, these components are used to protect sensitive equipment from transients in both amplifiers and their power systems. In industrial applications, LC26A TVS Diodes are used to provide protection from power outages and surges. Finally, in the consumer market, these devices are often used to protect sensitive electronics such as computers, notebooks, servers and HDTVs from any voltage spikes.

Working Principle

The working principle of a LC26A TVS Diode is fairly straightforward. Essentially, a TVS diode functions as a series of short-circuited diodes, which when exposed to an over-voltage event, act as a clamp that prevents the current from passing through the device in an effort to reduce the amount of voltage that reaches the circuit. Therefore, if there is an unexpected surge of voltage, like from a nearby lightning strike for example, the TVS Diode protects the device from any damage caused by an excessive voltage.

The LC26A TVS Diode is designed with a specific breakdown voltage (Vbr) which is the voltage at which the diode starts to breakdown and conduct current. Therefore, if the voltage on the power line increases above the Vbr of the diode, then it will start to break down and conduct current to ground, thus protecting the circuit. To be effective these devices must have a low capacitance since they are frequently used in high-frequency circuits where the capacitance can cause attenuation of the signal.

LC26A TVS diodes come in various packages and can be used in both unidirectional and bidirectional applications. Unidirectional devices such as the LC26A are only intended for one-way current flow, whereas bidirectional TVS diodes allow for both forward and reverse current flow. Additionally, these components come in both surface-mount and through-hole packages, so they can be mounted virtually anywhere.

One of the main advantages of LC26A TVS Diodes is their ability to absorb large currents in a short amount of time. Furthermore, they are designed to dissipate the energy quickly, thus, providing better over-voltage and surge protection. Additionally, these components have a low clamping voltage, which makes them ideal for use in high-speed data and communication circuits.

In conclusion, the LC26A TVS Diode is an important component for protecting delicate electronics from the damaging effects of over-voltage and transient surge events. They provide low capacitance and low clamping voltage, which can reduce power consumption and protect both unidirectional and bidirectional circuits. Therefore, they are invaluable components in the telecommunication, industrial and consumer markets.