I was working with a motor control mosfet board with a screen when my screwdriver slipped, knocking a miniscule little black square off the board that was labeled "TVS". There seems to be a bunch of these same diodes on the board. The device and attatched screen still works fine, but I'm wondering whether this is gonna be a problem eventually. As I understand, a TVS is a diode that acts like an open circuit and diverts current away from sensitive componets when there is a voltage spike. That's why everything works without the TVS for now. I have other TVS diodes from an identical non-functioning board that I can solder on but it would be difficult, time-consuming, and I would have to buy a smaller soldering iron tip. I'm powering this with a lipo battery btw so the input voltage won't really spike above what the lipo was charged to. My question is: Should I replace the diode or should I leave it how it is? If there's enough of a voltate spike coming from another componet to trigger the TVS, I feel like that componet and thus the board would be totaled anyway. If I didn't provide enough info in this post, ask and you shall receive. Thanks so much.

 

What is the normal operating voltage across the points where the TVS was connect to?

 

What is the normal operating voltage across the points where the TVS was connect to?

I don't know right now. I'm currently at school and don't have access to the board, but I can use my multimeter when I get home to find the exact voltage. I do know that input voltage to the device is 12.6 volts- there's larger TVS diodes closer to the Vin and Gnd terminals that connect to the battery that probably would deal with those currents. I'm assuming since this TVS is smaller, it either handles less current or less voltage. It might actually be part of the circuit for the screen, which I assume is 5v. Love the Einstein quote btw, I actually have it on a poster that's hanging in my room.

 

The TVS is there for a reason. I suggest that you put it back, othewise you risk damage to your assembly.

 

The TVS is there for a reason. I suggest that you put it back, othewise you risk damage to your assembly.

That's what I've been fearing. It'll require surgical precision to put back, but it might be worth it.

 

Yeah, some of the modern packages are truly painful to deal with. Truly.