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SAD stands for
Silicone Avalanche Diode. SAD’s, also known as “transorb diodes”,
are solid state devices with special characteristics enabling them to
absorb significant surge energy. In comparison to a Metal Oxide
Varistor (MOV) the surge handling is minimal.
The major advantage
of silicon avalanche diodes is their extremely predictable clamping
voltage. Their characteristic curve is essentially flat just like
zener diodes. This makes them useful in sensitive circuits where
accurate clamping is necessary, but they must be used in a hybrid design
with MOV’s and Gas Filled Discharge Tubes (GDT’s) in order to survive
high surge energy conditions.
SAD’s do not hare
current well, their flat performance curves shows why. One diode
will conduct all the current , the others virtually none.
Parallel connected SAD arrays can be recommended for high energy power
surges.
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