BC337RL1 Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The BC337RL1 is an NPN bipolar junction transistor manufactured by onsemi, rated for 45V collector-emitter breakdown voltage and 800mA maximum collector current in a TO-92 through-hole package. This device is classified as obsolete, necessitating identification of equivalent and substitute components for ongoing design support and procurement continuity. Substitute parts maintain electrical and mechanical compatibility while offering active product status and improved availability.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value	Unit
Transistor Type	NPN	—
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max)	45	V
Current - Collector (Ic) (Max)	800	mA
Power - Max	625	mW
Frequency - Transition	210	MHz
DC Current Gain (hFE) (Min) @ Ic, Vce	100 @ 100mA, 1V	—
Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic	700mV @ 50mA, 500mA	—
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max)	100	nA
Operating Temperature Range	-55 to 150	°C
Mounting Type	Through Hole	—
Package / Case	TO-226-3, TO-92-3 Long Body (Formed Leads)	—

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution of the BC337RL1 is determined by strict equivalence across the following electrical and mechanical parameters:

Electrical Equivalence Criteria:

Transistor Type: NPN
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max): 45V
Current - Collector (Ic) (Max): 800mA
Power - Max: 625mW
Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic: 700mV @ 50mA, 500mA
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max): 100nA or lower
DC Current Gain (hFE) (Min) @ Ic, Vce: 100 or higher @ 100mA, 1V

Mechanical Equivalence Criteria:

Mounting Type: Through Hole
Package / Case: TO-226-3 or TO-92-3 Formed Leads

Frequency Performance: The BC337RL1 specifies 210MHz transition frequency. Substitute parts operating at 100MHz transition frequency remain functionally equivalent for applications not requiring the higher frequency specification. Parts maintaining 210MHz transition frequency provide direct performance equivalence.

All identified substitute parts satisfy the core electrical and mechanical requirements. Variations in DC Current Gain (hFE) above the minimum threshold of 100 do not preclude substitution, as higher gain values remain within acceptable operating parameters for standard BJT applications.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	BC337RL1 (Main)	BC33716TA	BC33725TA	BC33725TAR	BC33725TFR	BC33740TA	BC337-25-AP
Manufacturer	onsemi	Fairchild Semiconductor	onsemi	onsemi	Fairchild Semiconductor	onsemi	Micro Commercial Co
Product Status	Obsolete	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Obsolete
Transistor Type	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max)	45V	45V	45V	45V	45V	45V	45V
Current - Collector (Ic) (Max)	800mA	800mA	800mA	800mA	800mA	800mA	800mA
Power - Max	625mW	625mW	625mW	625mW	625mW	625mW	625mW
Frequency - Transition	210MHz	100MHz	100MHz	100MHz	100MHz	100MHz	210MHz
DC Current Gain (hFE) (Min) @ Ic, Vce	100 @ 100mA, 1V	100 @ 100mA, 1V	160 @ 100mA, 1V	160 @ 100mA, 1V	160 @ 100mA, 1V	250 @ 100mA, 1V	160 @ 100mA, 1V
Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic	700mV @ 50mA, 500mA	700mV @ 50mA, 500mA	700mV @ 50mA, 500mA	700mV @ 50mA, 500mA	700mV @ 50mA, 500mA	700mV @ 50mA, 500mA	700mV @ 50mA, 500mA
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max)	100nA	100nA	100nA	100nA	100nA	100nA	200nA
Operating Temperature Range	-55 to 150°C	150°C	150°C	150°C	150°C	150°C	-55 to 150°C
Mounting Type	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole
Package / Case	TO-226-3, TO-92-3 Long Body	TO-226-3, TO-92-3	TO-226-3, TO-92-3	TO-226-3, TO-92-3	TO-226-3, TO-92-3	TO-226-3, TO-92-3	TO-226-3, TO-92-3
RoHS Status	Non-compliant	Not specified	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	Not specified	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant

Engineering Selection Recommendations

Active Product Alternatives (Recommended for New Designs):

BC33725TA, BC33725TAR, BC33725TFR, and BC33740TA are all active products with current manufacturing status. These parts provide long-term availability and supply chain stability. BC33725TA and BC33725TAR are onsemi products with ROHS3 compliance. BC33725TFR is a Fairchild Semiconductor equivalent with identical electrical specifications. BC33740TA offers the highest DC Current Gain (250 @ 100mA, 1V) among active alternatives, suitable for applications requiring enhanced gain characteristics.

Direct Frequency Match:

BC337-25-AP maintains the 210MHz transition frequency specification of the BC337RL1, providing direct performance equivalence in frequency-sensitive applications. However, this part is classified as obsolete and should not be selected for new designs despite frequency matching.

Transition Frequency Consideration:

BC33716TA, BC33725TA, BC33725TAR, BC33725TFR, and BC33740TA operate at 100MHz transition frequency, representing a reduction from the BC337RL1 specification of 210MHz. This difference is acceptable for applications operating below 100MHz. Applications requiring operation above 100MHz should retain BC337-25-AP or source alternative components with higher frequency specifications.

Temperature Range:

The BC337RL1 and BC337-25-AP specify operating temperature range of -55°C to 150°C. Active substitute parts specify only the upper limit of 150°C. Applications requiring full -55°C to 150°C operation should confirm substitute part performance at lower temperatures with the respective manufacturer.

Compliance Status:

BC33725TA, BC33725TAR, BC33740TA, and BC337-25-AP carry ROHS3 compliance certification. Applications subject to RoHS requirements should prioritize these parts. BC33716TA and BC33725TFR do not specify RoHS status and should be evaluated against specific regulatory requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can BC33725TA directly replace BC337RL1 in existing designs?

A: BC33725TA is electrically and mechanically equivalent to BC337RL1 across all critical parameters: 45V breakdown voltage, 800mA collector current, 625mW power dissipation, and TO-92-3 package. The primary difference is transition frequency (100MHz versus 210MHz). For applications operating below 100MHz, BC33725TA provides direct substitution. Applications requiring 210MHz operation require frequency-matched alternatives.

Q: What is the significance of DC Current Gain (hFE) variation among substitute parts?

A: The BC337RL1 specifies minimum hFE of 100 @ 100mA, 1V. Substitute parts BC33725TA, BC33725TAR, BC33725TFR specify 160, and BC33740TA specifies 250. Higher hFE values indicate greater current amplification capability. All values exceed the minimum requirement and remain compatible with standard BJT circuit designs. Applications with specific gain requirements should verify substitute part performance against circuit design parameters.

Q: Are all substitute parts available in the same packaging?

A: All substitute parts are packaged in TO-226-3 or TO-92-3 through-hole configurations with formed leads, matching the BC337RL1 mechanical specification. Physical pin configuration and PCB footprint compatibility are maintained across all listed substitutes.

Q: Which substitute part should be selected for new product designs?

A: BC33725TA, BC33725TAR, BC33725TFR, and BC33740TA are active products with current manufacturing status and are suitable for new designs. BC33725TA and BC33725TAR are onsemi products with ROHS3 compliance and high inventory availability (65,300 and 10,204 units respectively). BC33740TA offers the highest DC Current Gain specification. BC337-25-AP and BC337RL1 are obsolete and should not be selected for new designs.

Q: What is the impact of reduced operating temperature range in substitute parts?

A: BC33725TA, BC33725TAR, BC33725TFR, and BC33740TA specify maximum operating temperature of 150°C without specifying minimum temperature. The BC337RL1 and BC337-25-AP specify -55°C to 150°C. Applications requiring operation below 0°C should confirm substitute part performance at target temperatures with the respective manufacturer or select BC337-25-AP if frequency matching is critical.

Q: Can BC33740TA be used in applications designed for BC337RL1?

A: BC33740TA is electrically and mechanically equivalent to BC337RL1 with identical voltage, current, power, and saturation specifications. The higher DC Current Gain (250 versus 100) and reduced transition frequency (100MHz versus 210MHz) are the only differences. For applications operating below 100MHz and not requiring the full -55°C to 150°C temperature range, BC33740TA provides direct substitution with enhanced gain characteristics.

Q: What packaging options are available for BC337RL1 substitutes?

A: All substitute parts are supplied in TO-92-3 through-hole packages with formed leads. Packaging variations include Cut Tape (CT) supply for BC33725TA, BC33725TAR, and BC33740TA. BC33716TA and BC33725TFR do not specify packaging format. Standard tape-and-reel or bulk packaging should be confirmed with the supplier for procurement requirements.

Request Quote (Ships tomorrow)

Part Number

Quantity

Company

Contact Name

E-mail

Message