BC547C Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The BC547C is an NPN bipolar junction transistor manufactured by onsemi in TO-92 package configuration. This device is rated for 45V collector-emitter breakdown voltage, 100mA maximum collector current, and 625mW power dissipation. The BC547C is classified as obsolete product status, necessitating identification of equivalent and substitute components for ongoing design requirements and procurement needs.

Key Parameters

Parameter	BC547C Specification
Transistor Type	NPN
Current - Collector (Ic) Max	100 mA
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max)	45 V
Power - Max	625 mW
Frequency - Transition	300 MHz
DC Current Gain (hFE) Min @ Ic, Vce	420 @ 2mA, 5V
Operating Temperature Range	-55°C to 150°C
Package / Case	TO-226-3, TO-92-3 Long Body
Mounting Type	Through Hole

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitute parts for the BC547C are selected based on electrical parameter compatibility within the following criteria:

Primary Substitution Parameters:

Transistor Type: NPN configuration
Current Rating: 100 mA collector current maximum
Voltage Rating: Minimum 45V collector-emitter breakdown voltage
Package Type: TO-92 or TO-226-3 through-hole configuration
Power Dissipation: Minimum 500mW rating

Substitution Categories:

Direct Equivalents maintain all critical electrical parameters and package specifications, enabling one-to-one replacement in circuit applications.

Compatible Substitutes satisfy all minimum electrical requirements and package compatibility while potentially differing in secondary parameters such as DC current gain specifications or saturation voltage characteristics. These parts function identically in circuit operation within the specified parameter ranges.

Extended Rating Substitutes exceed the BC547C specifications in voltage or power rating, providing enhanced performance margin while maintaining full backward compatibility.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	BC547C	BC550CBU	BC547B	BC547BBU	BC547CBU	2N5232A PBFREE
Manufacturer	onsemi	onsemi	Diotec Semiconductor	onsemi	Fairchild Semiconductor	Central Semiconductor Corp
Product Status	Obsolete	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active
Transistor Type	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN
Ic (Max)	100 mA	100 mA	100 mA	100 mA	100 mA	100 mA
Vce Breakdown (Max)	45 V	45 V	45 V	45 V	45 V	50 V
Power - Max	625 mW	500 mW	500 mW	500 mW	500 mW	625 mW
Frequency - Transition	300 MHz	300 MHz	300 MHz	300 MHz	300 MHz	Not specified
DC Current Gain (hFE) Min @ Ic, Vce	420 @ 2mA, 5V	420 @ 2mA, 5V	200 @ 2mA, 5V	200 @ 2mA, 5V	420 @ 2mA, 5V	250 @ 2mA, 5V
Operating Temperature	-55°C to 150°C	150°C (TJ)	-55°C to 150°C	150°C (TJ)	150°C (TJ)	-65°C to 150°C
Package / Case	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
Mounting Type	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole
RoHS Status	Non-compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	Not applicable	ROHS3 Compliant	Not specified	ROHS3 Compliant

Engineering Selection Recommendations

BC550CBU (onsemi) - Direct manufacturer equivalent with active product status. Maintains identical electrical specifications for collector current, voltage rating, and DC current gain. Offers ROHS3 compliance advantage over the obsolete BC547C. Power dissipation rated at 500mW versus 625mW of the original part. Suitable for direct replacement in applications where 500mW power budget is sufficient.

BC547B (Diotec Semiconductor) - Active product with full electrical compatibility. Maintains 45V voltage rating and 100mA current specification. DC current gain minimum of 200 at specified conditions differs from BC547C specification of 420, resulting in lower gain performance. Recommended for applications where lower current gain is acceptable or where gain variation is compensated by circuit design.

BC547BBU (onsemi) - Active product from original manufacturer. Identical electrical parameters to BC547B with ROHS3 compliance. Lower DC current gain specification (200 minimum) compared to BC547C (420 minimum). Bulk packaging format. Suitable for high-volume procurement requiring RoHS compliance.

BC547CBU (Fairchild Semiconductor) - Active product with matched DC current gain specification (420 minimum) to BC547C. Maintains all critical electrical parameters including 45V voltage rating and 100mA current rating. Bulk packaging configuration. Provides direct functional equivalence with active product status.

2N5232A PBFREE (Central Semiconductor Corp) - Active product with extended voltage rating of 50V, exceeding BC547C specification of 45V. Maintains 100mA collector current and 625mW power dissipation matching original part. DC current gain minimum of 250 at specified conditions. ROHS3 compliant. Provides enhanced voltage margin for applications requiring additional design headroom. Transition frequency not specified in available data.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can BC547B be used as a direct replacement for BC547C?

A: BC547B satisfies all minimum electrical requirements for substitution: NPN configuration, 100mA collector current, 45V voltage rating, 300MHz transition frequency, and TO-92 package compatibility. The DC current gain minimum specification of 200 differs from BC547C specification of 420. In applications where circuit design compensates for gain variation or where lower gain is acceptable, BC547B functions as a compatible substitute.

Q: What is the difference between BC547CBU and BC550CBU?

A: Both parts are manufactured by onsemi and maintain identical DC current gain specifications (420 minimum). BC550CBU is rated for 500mW maximum power dissipation, while BC547CBU specifications do not explicitly state power rating in provided data. Both maintain 45V voltage rating and 100mA current rating. Selection between these parts depends on power dissipation requirements of the specific application.

Q: Is 2N5232A PBFREE suitable for BC547C replacement?

A: 2N5232A PBFREE meets all substitution criteria with 100mA collector current, TO-92 package, and through-hole mounting. The 50V voltage rating exceeds BC547C specification of 45V, providing additional design margin. Power dissipation rating of 625mW matches the original part. DC current gain minimum of 250 differs from BC547C specification of 420. Transition frequency is not specified for 2N5232A PBFREE in available documentation.

Q: What packaging formats are available for substitute parts?

A: All substitute parts listed maintain TO-92 or TO-226-3 through-hole package configuration, ensuring mechanical and electrical compatibility with BC547C footprints. BC547CBU, BC547BBU, and BC550CBU are supplied in bulk packaging format. BC547B is supplied in cut tape format. Package compatibility enables direct board-level substitution without layout modifications.

Q: Are all substitute parts RoHS compliant?

A: BC550CBU, BC547BBU, and 2N5232A PBFREE are ROHS3 compliant. BC547B RoHS status is not applicable. BC547CBU RoHS status is not specified in provided data. The original BC547C is RoHS non-compliant. For applications requiring RoHS compliance, BC550CBU, BC547BBU, or 2N5232A PBFREE are appropriate selections.

Q: What is the operating temperature range for substitute parts?

A: BC547C and BC547B specify operating temperature range of -55°C to 150°C. BC550CBU, BC547BBU, and BC547CBU specify maximum junction temperature of 150°C without explicit minimum temperature specification. 2N5232A PBFREE specifies -65°C to 150°C operating range, providing extended low-temperature capability. Application temperature requirements determine appropriate part selection.

Q: Can substitute parts be used interchangeably in existing designs?

A: All substitute parts maintain identical TO-92 package configuration and through-hole mounting type, enabling direct board-level substitution. Electrical parameter compatibility across collector current, voltage rating, and frequency specifications ensures functional equivalence. DC current gain variations between parts may require circuit-level evaluation in applications with tight gain-dependent specifications. Compliance requirements such as RoHS status should be verified against design specifications.

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