BC846A Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The BC846A is an NPN bipolar junction transistor (BJT) manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Corporation, designed for general-purpose switching and amplification applications. This surface-mount device operates at 65 V collector-emitter breakdown voltage with a maximum collector current of 100 mA and 200 mW power dissipation. The BC846A is classified as an active product with full RoHS3 compliance and REACH unaffected status. Substitute parts are identified when equivalent electrical performance and mechanical compatibility are required due to inventory constraints, manufacturing discontinuation, or specific packaging requirements.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value	Unit
Transistor Type	NPN	—
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max)	65	V
Current - Collector (Ic) (Max)	100	mA
Power - Max	200	mW
Frequency - Transition	100	MHz
DC Current Gain (hFE) (Min) @ Ic, Vce	110 @ 2mA, 5V	—
Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic	500mV @ 5mA, 100mA	—
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max)	100	nA
Operating Temperature Range	-55 to 150	°C
Mounting Type	Surface Mount	—
Package / Case	TO-236-3, SC-59, SOT-23-3	—
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant	—

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitute parts for the BC846A are classified into two categories based on electrical and mechanical compatibility:

Parametric Equivalents: Parts that match all critical electrical specifications including collector-emitter breakdown voltage (65 V), maximum collector current (100 mA), transition frequency (100 MHz), DC current gain minimum (110 @ 2mA, 5V), and surface-mount SOT-23 package configuration. These parts are direct functional replacements with identical performance envelopes.

Similar Parts: Parts that maintain the same transistor type (NPN), voltage rating (65 V), current rating (100 mA), frequency (100 MHz), and package family (SOT-23/TO-236) but may exhibit variations in power dissipation capability, saturation voltage characteristics, collector cutoff current, or DC current gain specifications. These parts are compatible for most applications but require verification of specific performance parameters for critical designs.

The following key parameters determine substitution eligibility:

Transistor Type: NPN
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown: 65 V
Current - Collector (Max): 100 mA
Frequency - Transition: 100 MHz
Package Family: SOT-23 / TO-236-3
Mounting Type: Surface Mount
RoHS3 Compliance

Parameter Comparison

Part Number	Manufacturer	Ic (Max) mA	Vce(br) V	Power (Max) mW	hFE (Min) @ 2mA, 5V	Vce Sat (Max) @ 5mA, 100mA	Icbo (Max) nA	Frequency MHz	Package	Temp Range °C
BC846A	Taiwan Semiconductor Corporation	100	65	200	110	500mV @ 5mA, 100mA	100	100	SOT-23	-55 to 150
BC846A RFG	Taiwan Semiconductor Corporation	100	65	200	110	500mV @ 5mA, 100mA	100	100	SOT-23	-55 to 150
BC846ALT1G	onsemi	100	65	300	110	600mV @ 5mA, 100mA	15	100	SOT-23-3	-55 to 150
BC846B,235	Nexperia USA Inc.	100	65	250	200	400mV @ 5mA, 100mA	15	100	SOT-23-3	-55 to 150
SBC846BLT1G	onsemi	100	65	300	200	600mV @ 5mA, 100mA	15	100	SOT-23-3	-55 to 150

Engineering Selection Recommendations

BC846A RFG (Taiwan Semiconductor Corporation): This part is a parametric equivalent offering identical electrical specifications to the BC846A with tape and reel packaging. Selection is appropriate for high-volume production environments requiring automated component handling. RoHS3 compliance and REACH unaffected status are maintained.

BC846ALT1G (onsemi): This onsemi variant provides increased power dissipation capability (300 mW versus 200 mW) and improved collector cutoff current performance (15 nA versus 100 nA). The higher saturation voltage (600 mV) and identical DC current gain (110) make this suitable for applications where thermal margin is beneficial. RoHS3 compliant with MSL 1 rating.

BC846B,235 (Nexperia USA Inc.): This Nexperia part features superior DC current gain (200 versus 110), lower saturation voltage (400 mV), and improved collector cutoff current (15 nA). The increased current gain provides enhanced amplification characteristics. RoHS3 compliant with MSL 1 rating. Limited inventory availability noted.

SBC846BLT1G (onsemi): This automotive-grade variant carries AEC-Q101 qualification and is suitable for automotive and harsh-environment applications. It combines the higher power dissipation (300 mW), improved DC current gain (200), and enhanced collector cutoff current (15 nA) of the BC846B series. RoHS3 compliant with MSL 1 rating and tape and reel packaging.

All substitute parts maintain RoHS3 compliance, REACH unaffected status, and surface-mount SOT-23/TO-236 package compatibility with the original BC846A.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can BC846A RFG be used as a direct replacement for BC846A?

A: Yes. BC846A RFG is a parametric equivalent with identical electrical specifications. The primary difference is packaging format: BC846A RFG is supplied in tape and reel format, while BC846A uses standard packaging. Both parts meet the same performance requirements.

Q: What is the difference between BC846ALT1G and BC846A?

A: BC846ALT1G (onsemi) provides higher power dissipation (300 mW versus 200 mW) and lower collector cutoff current (15 nA versus 100 nA). The saturation voltage is higher at 600 mV compared to 500 mV. DC current gain remains at 110. These differences make BC846ALT1G suitable for applications requiring improved thermal performance.

Q: Is BC846B,235 compatible with BC846A in all applications?

A: BC846B,235 maintains the same voltage and current ratings as BC846A but features higher DC current gain (200 versus 110) and lower saturation voltage (400 mV versus 500 mV). These characteristics make it suitable for most BC846A applications, though designs optimized for the lower gain of BC846A may require circuit adjustment.

Q: What does AEC-Q101 qualification mean for SBC846BLT1G?

A: AEC-Q101 qualification indicates that SBC846BLT1G meets automotive industry reliability and quality standards. This part is suitable for automotive applications and environments with stringent reliability requirements. Standard BC846A variants do not carry this qualification.

Q: Are all substitute parts RoHS3 compliant?

A: Yes. All listed substitute parts—BC846A RFG, BC846ALT1G, BC846B,235, and SBC846BLT1G—are RoHS3 compliant and REACH unaffected, matching the compliance status of the original BC846A.

Q: What is the difference between SOT-23 and SOT-23-3 packaging?

A: SOT-23 and SOT-23-3 (TO-236-3, SC-59) refer to the same three-terminal surface-mount package used for small-signal transistors. These designations are equivalent and interchangeable for the BC846 series. All listed parts use this same package family.

Q: Which substitute part offers the best thermal performance?

A: BC846ALT1G and SBC846BLT1G both offer 300 mW power dissipation compared to 200 mW for BC846A, providing 50% greater thermal capability. SBC846BLT1G additionally includes automotive-grade qualification and higher DC current gain (200).

Q: Can BC846A be used in automotive applications?

A: Standard BC846A is not automotive-qualified. For automotive applications, SBC846BLT1G is the appropriate choice, as it carries AEC-Q101 qualification and is specifically designed for automotive-grade reliability requirements.

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