what is peak inverse voltage

Peak inverse voltage (PIV) is the maximum voltage that a diode or other device can withstand in the reverse-biased direction before breakdown. In semiconductor diodes, PIV or peak reverse voltage is the maximum voltage that a diode can withstand in the reverse direction without breaking down or avalanching. PIV is an important consideration to ensure that diodes can handle the voltage without breakdown or damage. In rectifier applications, PIV or peak reverse voltage is the maximum value of reverse voltage which occurs at the peak of the input cycle when the diode is reverse-biased. The PIV rating is given and described in the datasheet provided by the manufacturer. Therefore, care should be taken that during the negative half cycle, the peak value of AC voltage should not be more than the rated value of the PIV of the diode.