BC846BW Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The BC846BW is an NPN bipolar junction transistor (BJT) manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Corporation, designed for general-purpose switching and amplification applications. This surface mount device is packaged in SOT-323 (SC-70) configuration and operates across a wide temperature range from -55°C to 150°C. The part is currently in active production status with substantial inventory availability. Equivalent and substitute parts are identified to support procurement flexibility, supply chain continuity, and design standardization across manufacturing environments.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value	Unit
Transistor Type	NPN	—
Current - Collector (Ic) Max	100	mA
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max)	65	V
Power - Max	200	mW
Frequency - Transition	100	MHz
DC Current Gain (hFE) Min @ Ic, Vce	200 @ 2mA, 5V	—
Operating Temperature Range	-55 to 150	°C
Package / Case	SOT-323 (SC-70)	—
Mounting Type	Surface Mount	—
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant	—

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution of the BC846BW is determined by strict equivalence across the following critical parameters:

Substitution Criteria:

Transistor type (NPN)
Maximum collector current (100 mA)
Collector-emitter breakdown voltage (65 V)
Maximum power dissipation (200 mW)
Transition frequency (100 MHz)
Minimum DC current gain (200 @ 2mA, 5V)
Surface mount packaging in SOT-323 configuration
RoHS3 compliance and REACH unaffected status

The identified substitute parts BC846BW,115 and BC846BW,135 are manufactured by Nexperia USA Inc. and maintain identical electrical specifications and package configuration as the primary BC846BW device. These parts are part of the BC846xW series and share the same base product number (BC846), confirming parametric equivalence for direct substitution in circuit applications.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	BC846BW (Taiwan Semiconductor)	BC846BW,115 (Nexperia)	BC846BW,135 (Nexperia)
Transistor Type	NPN	NPN	NPN
Current - Collector (Ic) Max	100 mA	100 mA	100 mA
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max)	65 V	65 V	65 V
Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic	600mV @ 5mA, 100mA	400mV @ 5mA, 100mA	400mV @ 5mA, 100mA
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max)	15nA (ICBO)	15nA (ICBO)	15nA (ICBO)
DC Current Gain (hFE) Min @ Ic, Vce	200 @ 2mA, 5V	200 @ 2mA, 5V	200 @ 2mA, 5V
Power - Max	200 mW	200 mW	200 mW
Frequency - Transition	100 MHz	100 MHz	100 MHz
Operating Temperature (TJ)	-55 to 150°C	150°C	150°C
Package / Case	SOT-323 (SC-70)	SOT-323 (SC-70)	SOT-323 (SC-70)
Mounting Type	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant
REACH Status	REACH Unaffected	REACH Unaffected	REACH Unaffected
Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL)	Not specified	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)

Engineering Selection Recommendations

All three parts—BC846BW (Taiwan Semiconductor Corporation), BC846BW,115 (Nexperia USA Inc.), and BC846BW,135 (Nexperia USA Inc.)—are active production devices with full RoHS3 compliance and REACH unaffected status. Selection between these parts is based on availability, packaging format, and supply chain requirements rather than electrical performance differences.

The Taiwan Semiconductor Corporation BC846BW offers the highest inventory level (485,300 pieces) and is suitable for high-volume procurement. The Nexperia variants BC846BW,115 and BC846BW,135 provide alternative sourcing with MSL rating of 1 (Unlimited), indicating superior moisture handling characteristics. BC846BW,135 maintains higher inventory (47,758 pieces) compared to BC846BW,115 (11,754 pieces), supporting consistent supply availability.

All parts are suitable for direct substitution in circuit designs requiring NPN bipolar transistors with 65V breakdown voltage, 100mA collector current, and 100MHz transition frequency specifications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can BC846BW,115 and BC846BW,135 be used interchangeably with the primary BC846BW part?

A: Yes. All three parts meet identical electrical specifications for collector current (100 mA), collector-emitter breakdown voltage (65 V), power dissipation (200 mW), and transition frequency (100 MHz). They share the same SOT-323 package configuration and surface mount mounting type, enabling direct substitution in circuit applications.

Q: What is the significance of the Vce saturation difference between the Taiwan Semiconductor part (600mV) and Nexperia parts (400mV)?

A: The Nexperia variants exhibit lower saturation voltage at the specified test conditions (5mA base current, 100mA collector current). This parameter difference is within the scope of the provided specifications and does not prevent substitution. Circuit designers should verify saturation voltage requirements for their specific application if this parameter is critical to circuit performance.

Q: Are there packaging differences between the substitute parts?

A: The primary BC846BW is supplied in standard SOT-323 packaging. Nexperia variants BC846BW,115 and BC846BW,135 are available in Cut Tape (CT) and Digi-Reel® packaging formats. The physical component package remains SOT-323 (SC-70) across all variants; packaging format differences relate to supply reel configuration only and do not affect component compatibility.

Q: What does MSL rating 1 (Unlimited) indicate for the Nexperia parts?

A: Moisture Sensitivity Level 1 (Unlimited) indicates that these components have the lowest moisture sensitivity classification and do not require special moisture control during storage or handling. This provides additional flexibility in inventory management and supply chain logistics compared to higher MSL ratings.

Q: Are all substitute parts compliant with environmental regulations?

A: Yes. All three parts are ROHS3 compliant and REACH unaffected, meeting current environmental and regulatory requirements for electronic component manufacturing and distribution.

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