BC547 Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The BC547 is a through-hole NPN bipolar junction transistor manufactured by onsemi, rated for 45 V collector-emitter breakdown voltage and 100 mA maximum collector current. The device is packaged in TO-92-3 configuration and is classified as obsolete. Due to its obsolete status, equivalent and substitute parts with active product status are available to support ongoing design requirements and procurement needs.

Key Parameters

Parameter	BC547
Transistor Type	NPN
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max)	45 V
Current - Collector (Ic) (Max)	100 mA
Power - Max	500 mW
Frequency - Transition	300 MHz
Mounting Type	Through Hole
Package / Case	TO-92-3
Operating Temperature (TJ)	150°C
Product Status	Obsolete

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution of the BC547 is determined by the following critical parameters: transistor type (NPN), collector-emitter breakdown voltage rating, maximum collector current, power dissipation capability, mounting type, and package configuration. Substitute parts must maintain electrical compatibility within the specified operating conditions.

The BC547 has two primary substitute categories:

Through-Hole Equivalents (Same Mounting Type): BC550CBU and 2N5232A PBFREE maintain the through-hole mounting configuration and are direct mechanical and electrical substitutes for applications requiring identical form factor.

Surface-Mount Alternative (Different Mounting Type): MMBT100 provides electrical equivalence with higher current capability but requires surface-mount assembly and is suitable only for designs that accommodate SOT-23-3 packaging.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	BC547	BC550CBU	MMBT100	2N5232A PBFREE
Transistor Type	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max)	45 V	45 V	45 V	50 V
Current - Collector (Ic) (Max)	100 mA	100 mA	500 mA	100 mA
Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic	600mV @ 5mA, 100mA	600mV @ 5mA, 100mA	400mV @ 20mA, 200mA	125mV @ 1mA, 10mA
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max)	15nA (ICBO)	15nA (ICBO)	50nA	30nA
DC Current Gain (hFE) (Min) @ Ic, Vce	110 @ 2mA, 5V	420 @ 2mA, 5V	100 @ 150mA, 5V	250 @ 2mA, 5V
Power - Max	500 mW	500 mW	350 mW	625 mW
Frequency - Transition	300 MHz	300 MHz	250 MHz	Not specified
Mounting Type	Through Hole	Through Hole	Surface Mount	Through Hole
Package / Case	TO-92-3	TO-92-3	SOT-23-3	TO-92-3
Operating Temperature (TJ)	150°C	150°C	-55°C ~ 150°C	-65°C ~ 150°C
Product Status	Obsolete	Active	Active	Active

Engineering Selection Recommendations

BC550CBU is the primary recommended substitute for direct replacement of the BC547. Both devices share identical electrical ratings (45 V breakdown voltage, 100 mA maximum collector current, 500 mW power dissipation, 300 MHz transition frequency) and identical through-hole TO-92-3 packaging. BC550CBU holds active product status and is RoHS3 compliant, ensuring long-term availability and regulatory compliance.

2N5232A PBFREE is an alternative through-hole substitute with higher voltage rating (50 V) and power dissipation (625 mW). This device is suitable for applications requiring enhanced voltage margin or higher power handling. It maintains the same 100 mA collector current and TO-92-3 package configuration. The device is RoHS3 compliant and active in production.

MMBT100 is suitable only for applications where surface-mount assembly is acceptable. This device provides higher collector current capability (500 mA) and lower saturation voltage but operates at reduced maximum power (350 mW) and transition frequency (250 MHz). MMBT100 is not a direct replacement for through-hole designs but serves as an alternative for new designs utilizing surface-mount technology.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can BC550CBU be used as a direct replacement for BC547 in existing through-hole designs?

A: Yes. BC550CBU is electrically and mechanically equivalent to BC547. Both devices have identical collector-emitter breakdown voltage (45 V), maximum collector current (100 mA), power dissipation (500 mW), transition frequency (300 MHz), and TO-92-3 package configuration. BC550CBU is active in production, whereas BC547 is obsolete.

Q: What is the primary difference between BC550CBU and 2N5232A PBFREE?

A: Both are through-hole NPN transistors in TO-92-3 packages suitable for BC547 replacement. 2N5232A PBFREE has higher voltage rating (50 V vs. 45 V) and higher power dissipation (625 mW vs. 500 mW). BC550CBU maintains exact electrical parity with BC547. Selection depends on whether the application requires the enhanced voltage and power margins provided by 2N5232A PBFREE.

Q: Is MMBT100 a suitable replacement for BC547?

A: MMBT100 is electrically compatible but not a direct replacement due to package differences. MMBT100 uses surface-mount SOT-23-3 packaging, whereas BC547 uses through-hole TO-92-3 packaging. MMBT100 is appropriate only for new designs that accommodate surface-mount assembly. Additionally, MMBT100 has higher collector current capability (500 mA) but lower maximum power dissipation (350 mW) and transition frequency (250 MHz).

Q: Are all substitute parts RoHS compliant?

A: BC550CBU, MMBT100, and 2N5232A PBFREE are all RoHS3 compliant. This ensures compatibility with modern manufacturing standards and regulatory requirements.

Q: What is the DC current gain difference between BC547 and BC550CBU?

A: BC547 has minimum DC current gain (hFE) of 110 at 2 mA collector current and 5 V collector-emitter voltage. BC550CBU has minimum DC current gain of 420 at the same conditions. This higher gain in BC550CBU may affect circuit biasing and should be evaluated in applications with tight gain-dependent specifications.

Q: Can 2N5232A PBFREE be used in high-frequency applications?

A: 2N5232A PBFREE does not specify transition frequency in the provided data. BC547 and BC550CBU both specify 300 MHz transition frequency. For applications requiring confirmed high-frequency performance, BC550CBU is the recommended choice.

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