Cautions and warnings
General
Some parts of this publication contain statements about the suitability of our CeraDiodes for cer-
tain areas of application, including recommendations about incorporation/design-in of these prod-
ucts into customer applications. The statements are based on our knowledge of typical require-
ments often made of our CeraDiodes in the particular areas. We nevertheless expressly point out
that such statements cannot be regarded as binding statements about the suitability of our
CeraDiodes for a particular customer application. As a rule, EPCOS is either unfamiliar with indi-
vidual customer applications or less familiar with them than the customers themselves. For these
reasons, it is always incumbent on the customer to check and decide whether the CeraDiodes
with the properties described in the product specification are suitable for use in a particular cus-
tomer application.
Do not use EPCOS CeraDiodes for purposes not identified in our specifications, application
notes and data books.
Ensure the suitability of a CeraDiode in particular by testing it for reliability during design-in. Al-
ways evaluate a CeraDiode under worst-case conditions.
Pay special attention to the reliability of CeraDiodes intended for use in safety-critical applica-
tions (e.g. medical equipment, automotive, spacecraft, nuclear power plant).
Design notes
Always connect a CeraDiode in parallel with the electronic circuit to be protected.
Consider maximum rated power dissipation if a CeraDiode has insufficient time to cool down
between a number of pulses occurring within a specified isolated time period. Ensure that elec-
trical characteristics do not degrade.
Consider derating at higher operating temperatures. Choose the highest voltage class compati-
ble with derating at higher temperatures.
Surge currents beyond specified values will puncture a CeraDiode. In extreme cases a
CeraDiode will burst.
If steep surge current edges are to be expected, make sure your design is as low-inductance
as possible.
In some cases the malfunctioning of passive electronic components or failure before the end of
their service life cannot be completely ruled out in the current state of the art, even if they are
operated as specified. Do not use CeraDiodes in applications requiring a very high level of op-
erational safety and especially when the malfunction or failure of a passive electronic compo-
nent could endanger human life or health (e.g. in accident prevention, life-saving systems, or
automotive battery line applications such as clamp 30), ensure by suitable design of the appli-
cation or other measures (e.g. installation of protective circuitry or redundancy) that no injury or
damage is sustained by third parties in the event of such a malfunction or failure.
Specified values only apply to CeraDiodes that have not been subject to prior electrical, me-
chanical or thermal damage. The use of CeraDiodes in line-to-ground applications is therefore
not advisable, and it is only allowed together with safety countermeasures like thermal fuses.
CeraDiodes
High-speed series
Page 19 of 22
Please read Cautions and warnings and
Important notes at the end of this document.
