DO-15 is a JEDEC axial through-hole package for diodes, also designated DO-204AC, with a molded plastic body roughly 5.5–7.6 mm long and 2.6–3.6 mm in diameter, on 0.69–0.89 mm diameter leads. It’s the standard package for 1.5 A rectifiers like the 1N5391–1N5399 family and for many axial TVS diodes.
Key takeaways
- DO-15 = DO-204AC. Body is roughly 5.5–7.6 mm long, 2.6–3.6 mm diameter, on 0.69–0.89 mm leads — exact tolerance varies slightly by manufacturer.
- Common lead-forming pitches are 7.62 mm (300 mil), 10.16 mm (400 mil), and 12.7 mm (500 mil) for horizontal mounting.
- A vertical-mount variant, sometimes called DO-15V, uses a 2.54 mm pitch and saves board area versus horizontal mounting.
- Mounted horizontally, the component stands roughly 6.30 mm above the PCB surface.
- The 1N5391–1N5399 rectifier family (50–1000 V, 1.5 A) is the most common real-world DO-15 part; TVS diodes in the same body typically handle 500 W peak pulse power.
What a DO-15 package is
DO-15 is a leaded, molded-plastic axial package standardized by JEDEC and also known as DO-204AC. It houses a single diode die between two axial leads, with a color band marking the cathode end. It’s the standard case for mid-current silicon rectifiers and axial transient-voltage-suppression (TVS) diodes, sitting between the smaller DO-41 and the larger DO-201 in the same axial family.
DO-15 dimensions
Manufacturer datasheets and the generic JEDEC/Wikipedia DO-204AC table don’t quote identical tolerance ranges — the spread is small, but real, and worth checking against your specific part rather than assuming one source covers every manufacturer.
| Dimension | Meaning | Diodes Inc. DO-15 (mm) | JEDEC DO-204AC / Wikipedia (mm) |
| A | Overall body + lead length, min | 25.40 min, no max listed | 25.40–38.10 |
| B | Body length | 5.50–7.62 | 5.85–7.62 |
| C | Lead diameter | 0.686–0.889 | 0.69–0.88 |
| D | Body diameter | 2.60–3.60 | 2.65–3.55 |
Design rule: for high-voltage parts, confirm creepage and clearance separately — Diodes Inc.’s own DO-15 package sheet flags that the standard dimensions alone don’t guarantee adequate creepage for high-voltage applications, and recommends checking the relevant industry sector guidelines.
Lead pitch, mounting, and land area
DO-15 leads can be bent at different points to change the mounting pitch. Using a 10.16 mm (400 mil) pitch, the resulting PCB land area is approximately 38 mm². Horizontal mounting is most common; a vertical-mount configuration, sometimes labeled DO-15V, uses a tighter 2.54 mm pitch and a smaller board footprint at the cost of extra assembly height.
| Lead-forming pitch | Mounting | Approx. PCB land area |
| 7.62 mm (300 mil) | Horizontal, tight spacing | Smaller than the 400 mil case; not separately quantified in source |
| 10.16 mm (400 mil) | Horizontal, most common | ~38 mm² |
| 12.7 mm (500 mil) | Horizontal, extra clearance | Larger than the 400 mil case; not separately quantified in source |
| 2.54 mm (100 mil), vertical | Vertical (DO-15V) | Smallest footprint; body stands off board at ~6.30 mm height when horizontal for comparison |
Mounted horizontally, the body sits roughly 6.30 mm above the board surface — factor this into enclosure height and adjacent component clearance before finalizing layout.
Real part example: 1N5391–1N5399
The 1N5391 through 1N5399 series is a standard silicon rectifier family rated 50–1000 V peak repetitive reverse voltage and 1.5 A average forward current, packaged in DO-15 across multiple manufacturers including Diodes Incorporated and Rectron. Diodes Inc.’s version lists a surge overload rating to 50 A peak and glass-passivated die construction. This family is a reasonable stand-in for confirming DO-15’s real-world footprint since it’s stocked by most major distributors and manufactured to the same JEDEC body across vendors.
TVS diodes in DO-15
Axial transient-voltage-suppression diodes also commonly ship in the DO-15 body. Typical peak pulse power for a DO-15 TVS diode is 500 W, with a peak current pulse around 54.3 A on the standard 10/1000 μs surge waveform. If you’re specifying a TVS part, verify these ratings against the specific datasheet — they vary by clamping voltage and aren’t universal across every DO-15 TVS device.
Cathode orientation
A single color band near one end of the body marks the cathode. There’s no notch or dot convention here as with DIP packages — orientation on the schematic and silkscreen should always be cross-checked against the band, since a band-marked diode inserted backward will block current in the intended forward direction.
FAQ
What are the dimensions of a DO-15 package?
Body length runs roughly 5.5–7.6 mm, body diameter 2.6–3.6 mm, with lead diameter around 0.69–0.89 mm. Exact tolerances vary slightly by manufacturer, so check the specific datasheet.
Is DO-15 the same as DO-204AC?
Yes. DO-15 is the common JEDEC name for the DO-204AC axial diode package.
What lead pitch is used for DO-15?
Common horizontal-mount pitches are 7.62 mm, 10.16 mm, and 12.7 mm. A vertical-mount variant uses a tighter 2.54 mm pitch.
What diodes use the DO-15 package?
Mid-current rectifiers like the 1N5391–1N5399 family (1.5 A, 50–1000 V) and many axial TVS diodes are packaged in DO-15.
How do you identify the cathode on a DO-15 diode?
A color band near one end of the body marks the cathode. Always confirm orientation against this band before soldering.
Decision
Before finalizing a DO-15 footprint, confirm the exact body and lead dimensions against your specific manufacturer’s datasheet rather than a generic JEDEC table, decide horizontal vs. vertical mounting based on available board area and clearance height, and double-check the cathode band orientation against your schematic before placing parts.
