TVS diodes TVS (transient voltage suppressor) diodes are used to protect traces from high voltage spikes. They work by shunting currents when the voltage exceeds the avalanche breakdown potential. They are basically high-power Zener diodes . They start conducting at a preset voltage and are tailored for low on-times. Transient Voltage Suppressor or TVS Diodes are an effective solution to protect other semiconductors from any damaging surge levels they may be exposed to. Some confusion can arise as ESD diodes can often be referred to as TVS diodes in literature. However, there is a clear distinction. TVS diodes are particularly efficient in countering medium-voltage high-energy pulses that last milliseconds, in comparison to ESD protection devices which address higher voltage pulses of lower energy and shorter duration. And while they may seem like Zener diodes, TVS diodes are specifically designed to suppress transients rather than regulate voltage. To eff...