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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11The Central Semiconductor 1N5397 is a general-purpose silicon rectifier rated for 600 V repetitive reverse voltage and 1.5 A average forward rectified current, in a DO-15 axial package. The 1.5 A figure depends on specified thermal conditions; it is not a guarantee for every circuit or mounting arrangement. Check the exact manufacturer and suffix before designing or replacing the part.
Central Semiconductor 1N5397 specifications
Central’s General-Purpose Rectifiers selection guide lists these values for the 1N5397. Its table associates the current rating with a 75 °C ambient-temperature column; consult the exact device datasheet for the complete thermal conditions and test details.
| Parameter | Central Semiconductor value | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Repetitive peak reverse voltage (VRRM) | 600 V | Maximum specified repetitive reverse voltage, not forward voltage drop. |
| Maximum RMS voltage (VRMS) | 420 V | Relevant to sinusoidal AC applications; do not compare RMS voltage directly with the peak reverse rating. |
| Maximum DC blocking voltage (VDC) | 600 V | Specified continuous DC reverse-blocking value. |
| Average forward rectified current (IO) | 1.5 A | Conditional thermal and waveform-dependent rating. |
| Peak forward surge current (IFSM) | 50 A | Non-repetitive surge rating under specified test conditions, not an operating current. |
| Maximum forward voltage (VF) | 1.4 V at IF = IO | Maximum drop at the stated current. |
| Maximum reverse current (IR) | 5 µA at VRRM | Central’s selection-table value; verify test conditions in the exact device datasheet. |
| Package | DO-15 / DO-204AC | Axial, through-hole package. |
| Junction and storage temperature | Not stated in the cited Central selection table | Use the exact Central device datasheet; do not assume another maker’s limits. |
| Reverse-recovery specification | Not stated in the cited Central selection table | Treat as standard recovery unless the exact Central datasheet establishes otherwise. |
What the 1N5397 is—and what it is not
It is a single silicon rectifier in the 1N5391–1N5399 voltage family, with the 600 V rating in that sequence. Central identifies the ordinary package as DO-15. The guide says DO-41 versions of the family may be available by special order, so confirm the package suffix rather than assuming every 1N5397 has the same body dimensions.
This is a general-purpose, standard-recovery rectifier, not a Schottky or ultrafast diode. Vishay describes its own 1N5391–1N5399 family for power supplies, inverters, converters and freewheeling applications; those are family-level applications, not a guarantee that every manufacturer’s version has identical characteristics. See Vishay’s 1N5391–1N5399 product information.
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How to interpret the voltage rating
The 600 V VRRM rating describes reverse voltage the diode is specified to block under defined conditions. It does not mean the diode drops 600 V when conducting, nor does it by itself establish that a circuit is safe at 600 V. Provide margin for line variation, transformer leakage, switching spikes, startup events and other transients.
For a sine-wave source, peak voltage is approximately VRMS × √2. A 420 V RMS sine wave reaches about 594 V peak before tolerances or transients, leaving almost no margin to a 600 V reverse rating. Comparing only the source’s RMS number with the diode’s peak rating can therefore produce an unsafe choice.
Using it in mains-derived circuits
Nominal 120 V RMS and 230 V RMS lines have peaks of roughly 170 V and 325 V, respectively, below 600 V. That comparison is only a starting point: account for line tolerance, surge exposure, repetitive spikes and the circuit’s actual reverse stress. The diode rating does not certify a mains assembly. Insulation, creepage and clearance, fusing, enclosure design and applicable safety requirements must be handled separately.
How to interpret the current and surge ratings
The 1.5 A average forward rectified current is conditional on thermal assumptions, including the guide’s 75 °C ambient column. Actual capability depends on ambient temperature, lead length, heat transfer, enclosure, waveform and duty cycle. Higher temperatures, short leads or poor dissipation can require derating.
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Do not treat average, RMS, instantaneous and surge current as interchangeable. In particular, a capacitor-input supply draws narrow charging pulses. A load’s average DC current can be below 1.5 A while the diode experiences high peak and RMS currents that increase heating and stress. Check the exact datasheet’s derating information and analyze the waveform; if conditions are uncertain, select a rectifier with appropriate margin.
The 50 A peak forward surge figure is for a non-repetitive event under a specified test waveform. Comparable 1N5397 datasheets commonly use an 8.3 ms half-sine condition, but that condition should not be attributed to Central without checking its exact datasheet. The figure is not permission for repeated inrush pulses, sustained overload, or short-circuit current.
Forward drop, heat and efficiency
Central lists a maximum forward drop of 1.4 V at the rated forward current. Actual forward voltage varies with current, junction temperature, device variation, manufacturer and measurement conditions. A lower-current operating point will generally have a lower drop, but the cited Central table does not establish a typical value.
A first-order conduction-loss estimate is P ≈ VF × IF. Using the table’s maximum 1.4 V and 1.5 A gives about 2.1 W. That arithmetic is not proof that a DO-15 package can dissipate 2.1 W continuously: temperature rise and permissible current depend on the specified mounting and thermal conditions.
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Polarity and physical orientation
The painted band on the axial body marks the cathode. The unbanded end is the anode. In a conventional half-wave rectifier, the cathode commonly faces the positive output node while the diode conducts.
- Band: cathode.
- Unbanded lead: anode.
- Series reverse-polarity protection: orient the diode for the intended current path; the correct direction depends on whether the design blocks or permits current in normal operation.
- Shunt protection: confirm the schematic and supply polarity before installation; a reversed diode may short the supply when energized.
Follow the circuit symbol and verify the board’s polarity markings; do not rely on the component number alone.
Where a 1N5397 is a reasonable choice
- Low-frequency AC rectification and ordinary power-supply rectifier positions, within voltage, current, surge and thermal limits.
- Bridge-rectifier legs, provided the selected part meets the complete waveform and heat requirements.
- Polarity protection where its forward loss and required current are acceptable.
- Relay or solenoid freewheeling where standard-recovery behavior and the resulting clamp behavior are acceptable.
- Battery-charger or adapter circuits only after checking the actual peak reverse voltage, charging pulses, temperature and protection requirements.
When standard recovery is a problem
Reverse-recovery behavior matters when a diode switches from conducting to blocking. A standard-recovery rectifier can cause extra switching loss, ringing or electromagnetic interference in circuits that switch quickly. Avoid using the 1N5397 as a default choice for high-frequency switch-mode, flyback or resonant converters, high-frequency freewheeling paths, or sensitive clamp and pulse circuits without confirming recovery performance.
A DigiKey listing for the Vishay 1N5397GP-E3/54 categorizes that specific variant as standard recovery and gives a 2 µs reverse-recovery time. This is Vishay-specific context, not a Central specification. Where switching speed matters, choose a fast or ultrafast, soft-recovery, Schottky or silicon-carbide device as appropriate, and compare voltage, current, surge, recovery, capacitance, thermal performance and EMI requirements.
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Comparing neighboring 1N539x parts
Central’s selection guide gives the family’s reverse-voltage progression below. The listed family members are in the same 1.5 A class and 50 A surge category in that table, but check the exact device datasheet and package before substituting.
| Part | Repetitive peak reverse voltage |
|---|---|
| 1N5391 | 50 V |
| 1N5392 | 100 V |
| 1N5393 | 200 V |
| 1N5394 | 300 V |
| 1N5395 | 400 V |
| 1N5396 | 500 V |
| 1N5397 | 600 V |
| 1N5398 | 800 V |
| 1N5399 | 1000 V |
A 1N5396 has less reverse-voltage rating than a 1N5397; a 1N5398 or 1N5399 has more. Higher voltage alone does not make a part a drop-in improvement: package, forward behavior, leakage, recovery, availability and thermal limits still matter.
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Same-number parts from another manufacturer
The 1N5397 designation is used by multiple manufacturers, but it does not guarantee identical temperature limits, leakage test conditions, recovery data, lead finish or qualification. For example, the DigiKey entry for Vishay’s 1N5397GP-E3/54 lists its own 600 V, 1.5 A, 1.4 V maximum forward drop and DO-15 package. Use that manufacturer’s documentation for that suffix, not as a substitute for Central’s full datasheet.
Higher-current candidates
Central’s selection table lists the 1N5406 as a 3 A, 600 V-class general-purpose rectifier candidate. Its larger package and electrical and thermal characteristics must be checked against the board and circuit before replacement; do not assume it fits or behaves identically.
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Fast, Schottky or silicon-carbide alternatives
These categories may reduce switching or forward-conduction losses, but they differ in leakage, capacitance, voltage capability and thermal behavior. Many low-voltage Schottky diodes are not voltage-equivalent to a 600 V 1N5397. Confirm the complete set of ratings and physical fit for the exact part rather than relying on a category name.
Availability and ordering
The AEM listing for Central Semiconductor’s 1N5397 shows box and tape-and-reel options as special-order items. Its listed box option is 1N5397 BK in quantities of 1,000 and its tape-and-reel option is 1N5397 TR in quantities of 4,000. Confirm current minimums, lead time and availability with the supplier; these can change.
The cited DigiKey listing for Vishay’s 1N5397GP-E3/54 identifies that variant as “Not for new designs.” A distributor status applies to that vendor part and listing, not automatically to Central’s device or all 1N5397 parts. Check lifecycle and supply status for the exact manufacturer, suffix and region before committing a design.
Selection checklist
- Confirm the maximum repetitive and transient reverse voltage has comfortable margin below 600 V.
- Check average and RMS current against derated thermal capability for the actual ambient, mounting and waveform.
- Assess repetitive charging pulses, startup inrush and fault surges separately from the 50 A non-repetitive surge figure.
- Budget for forward loss; the maximum 1.4 V drop at the rated current is not negligible.
- Verify standard recovery is suitable for the circuit’s switching frequency and transient behavior.
- Confirm DO-15 fit, band orientation, manufacturer suffix, temperature limits and any qualification or lead-finish requirement.
Sources and manufacturer-specific details
The primary Central rating reference is its General-Purpose Rectifiers selection guide, whose pages show revisions dated January 3, 2008 and December 6, 2004. The current Central Semi product listing mirrored by AEM provides additional headline specifications, including 25 pF junction capacitance and ordering options, at the 1N5397 product page. That page displays reverse-leakage entries of 1 µA and 50 µA without enough context to reconcile them with each other or the selection guide’s 5 µA maximum at VRRM; use the exact Central datasheet and test conditions for a design-critical leakage limit.
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