BC548CTAR Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The BC548CTAR is a small-signal NPN bipolar junction transistor manufactured by onsemi, designed for general-purpose switching and amplification applications. It features a maximum collector current of 100 mA, collector-emitter breakdown voltage of 30 V, and transition frequency of 300 MHz. The device is packaged in a TO-92-3 through-hole configuration with a maximum power dissipation of 500 mW.

The BC548CTAR is classified as obsolete. Identifying equivalent and substitute parts is necessary to maintain design continuity, ensure supply chain availability, and support ongoing production requirements for applications utilizing this transistor.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value	Unit
Transistor Type	NPN	—
Current - Collector (Ic) Max	100	mA
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max)	30	V
Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic	600 mV @ 5 mA, 100 mA	—
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max)	15	nA
DC Current Gain (hFE) Min @ Ic, Vce	420 @ 2 mA, 5 V	—
Power - Max	500	mW
Frequency - Transition	300	MHz
Operating Temperature (TJ)	150	°C
Mounting Type	Through Hole	—
Package / Case	TO-92-3 (TO-226AA)	—

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitute parts for the BC548CTAR are identified based on strict electrical and mechanical parameter matching. The following criteria determine substitution eligibility:

Electrical Parameters (Must Match):

Transistor Type: NPN
Current - Collector (Ic) Max: 100 mA
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max): 30 V
Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic: 600 mV @ 5 mA, 100 mA
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max): 15 nA
DC Current Gain (hFE) Min @ Ic, Vce: 420 @ 2 mA, 5 V
Power - Max: 500 mW
Frequency - Transition: 300 MHz
Operating Temperature (TJ): 150 °C

Mechanical Parameters (Must Match):

Mounting Type: Through Hole
Package / Case: TO-92-3 (TO-226AA)

All identified substitute parts meet these criteria and are therefore electrically and mechanically interchangeable with the BC548CTAR in applications requiring these specifications.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	BC548CTAR (onsemi)	BC548CTA (Fairchild)	BC549CTA (onsemi)
Transistor Type	NPN	NPN	NPN
Current - Collector (Ic) Max	100 mA	100 mA	100 mA
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max)	30 V	30 V	30 V
Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic	600 mV @ 5 mA, 100 mA	600 mV @ 5 mA, 100 mA	600 mV @ 5 mA, 100 mA
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max)	15 nA	15 nA	15 nA
DC Current Gain (hFE) Min @ Ic, Vce	420 @ 2 mA, 5 V	420 @ 2 mA, 5 V	420 @ 2 mA, 5 V
Power - Max	500 mW	500 mW	500 mW
Frequency - Transition	300 MHz	300 MHz	300 MHz
Operating Temperature (TJ)	150 °C	150 °C	150 °C
Mounting Type	Through Hole	Through Hole	Through Hole
Package / Case	TO-92-3	TO-92-3	TO-92-3
Product Status	Obsolete	Active	Active

Engineering Selection Recommendations

BC548CTA (Fairchild Semiconductor): This part is electrically and mechanically identical to the BC548CTAR and carries Active product status. It is suitable for direct substitution in new designs and ongoing production. The part is available in Bulk packaging.

BC549CTA (onsemi): This part is electrically and mechanically identical to the BC548CTAR and carries Active product status. It is manufactured by the same original equipment manufacturer (onsemi) as the BC548CTAR. The part is available in Cut Tape (CT) packaging and is RoHS3 Compliant. Inventory availability is significantly higher than the BC548CTAR.

Both substitute parts satisfy all electrical and mechanical requirements for direct replacement. Selection between BC548CTA and BC549CTA should be based on packaging format requirements, supply chain availability, and compliance certifications applicable to the end application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can BC548CTA and BC549CTA be used interchangeably with BC548CTAR?

A: Yes. All three parts share identical electrical parameters (collector current, breakdown voltage, saturation voltage, current gain, power dissipation, and transition frequency) and mechanical specifications (TO-92-3 through-hole package). They are direct functional equivalents.

Q: What is the difference between BC548CTA and BC549CTA?

A: The primary differences are manufacturer (Fairchild vs. onsemi), packaging format (Bulk vs. Cut Tape), and product status (both Active). Electrically and mechanically, they are identical and interchangeable.

Q: Why is BC548CTAR classified as obsolete?

A: The BC548CTAR is marked as obsolete by onsemi. Active equivalent parts (BC548CTA and BC549CTA) are available to support continued design and production requirements.

Q: Are there any compliance or certification differences between these parts?

A: BC549CTA is RoHS3 Compliant. All three parts are REACH Unaffected and carry ECCN EAR99 classification. Compliance requirements for the end application should determine part selection.

Q: What packaging options are available?

A: BC548CTAR is supplied in standard TO-92-3 through-hole format. BC548CTA is available in Bulk packaging. BC549CTA is available in Cut Tape (CT) packaging. All use the same TO-92-3 physical package.

Q: Can these parts be used in surface-mount applications?

A: No. All three parts are through-hole components designed for insertion into PCB holes. They are not suitable for surface-mount assembly without mechanical adaptation.

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