BC850CW NPN Bipolar Transistor Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The BC850CW is an NPN bipolar junction transistor manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Corporation, designed for general-purpose switching and amplification applications. This surface mount device operates at 45V maximum collector-emitter breakdown voltage with a maximum collector current of 100mA and 200mW power dissipation. The BC850CW is classified as an Active product and is RoHS3 compliant, making it suitable for modern electronic applications requiring environmental compliance.

Substitute parts are necessary when the original BC850CW becomes unavailable due to supply constraints, when alternative packaging formats are required for manufacturing processes, or when sourcing from different manufacturers is preferred for supply chain optimization.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value	Unit
Transistor Type	NPN	—
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max)	45	V
Current - Collector (Ic) (Max)	100	mA
Power - Max	200	mW
Frequency - Transition	100	MHz
Package / Case	SC-70, SOT-323	—
Mounting Type	Surface Mount	—
Operating Temperature Range	-55 to 150	°C
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant	—

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution of the BC850CW is determined by strict electrical and mechanical parameter matching within the NPN bipolar transistor category. The following parameters establish substitution eligibility:

Critical Matching Parameters:

Transistor Type: NPN
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max): 45V
Current - Collector (Ic) (Max): 100mA
Power - Max: 200mW
Frequency - Transition: 100MHz
Package / Case: SC-70, SOT-323
Mounting Type: Surface Mount

Substitute parts are classified into two categories:

Upgrade Substitutes: Parts from alternative manufacturers (Nexperia USA Inc., NXP USA Inc.) that meet or exceed all critical electrical parameters and maintain identical package specifications. These parts may have different DC Current Gain (hFE) specifications or Vce Saturation characteristics while remaining functionally compatible.

Parametric Equivalents: Parts that match all critical electrical parameters and package specifications, including identical DC Current Gain (hFE) minimum values where applicable. These parts provide direct functional equivalence with potential variations in packaging format or manufacturer.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	BC850CW (Main)	BC847W,115	BC847W,135	BC847CW,115	BC847CW,135	BC850CW,115	BC850CW,135
Manufacturer	Taiwan Semiconductor Corporation	Nexperia USA Inc.	NXP USA Inc.	Nexperia USA Inc.	Nexperia USA Inc.	Nexperia USA Inc.	Nexperia USA Inc.
Transistor Type	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN
Ic (Max)	100 mA	100 mA	100 mA	100 mA	100 mA	100 mA	100 mA
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max)	45 V	45 V	45 V	45 V	45 V	45 V	45 V
Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic	600mV @ 5mA, 100mA	400mV @ 5mA, 100mA	400mV @ 5mA, 100mA	400mV @ 5mA, 100mA	400mV @ 5mA, 100mA	600mV @ 5mA, 100mA	600mV @ 5mA, 100mA
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max)	15nA (ICBO)	15nA (ICBO)	15nA (ICBO)	15nA (ICBO)	15nA (ICBO)	15nA (ICBO)	15nA (ICBO)
DC Current Gain (hFE) (Min) @ Ic, Vce	420 @ 2mA, 5V	110 @ 2mA, 5V	110 @ 2mA, 5V	420 @ 2mA, 5V	420 @ 2mA, 5V	420 @ 2mA, 5V	420 @ 2mA, 5V
Power - Max	200 mW	200 mW	200 mW	200 mW	200 mW	200 mW	200 mW
Frequency - Transition	100 MHz	100 MHz	100 MHz	100 MHz	100 MHz	100 MHz	100 MHz
Operating Temperature (TJ)	-55 to 150°C	150°C	150°C	150°C	150°C	150°C	150°C
Package / Case	SC-70, SOT-323	SC-70, SOT-323	SC-70, SOT-323	SC-70, SOT-323	SC-70, SOT-323	SC-70, SOT-323	SC-70, SOT-323
Mounting Type	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	Not specified	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant
Packaging Format	Not specified	Tape & Reel (TR)	Bulk	Cut Tape (CT) & Digi-Reel®	Tape & Reel (TR)	Cut Tape (CT) & Digi-Reel®	Tape & Reel (TR)
Automotive Grade	Not specified	Not specified	Yes	Not specified	Not specified	Yes	Yes
AEC-Q101 Qualification	Not specified	Not specified	Yes	Not specified	Not specified	Yes	Yes

Engineering Selection Recommendations

BC850CW,115 and BC850CW,135 (Nexperia USA Inc.): These parts are direct parametric equivalents to the main BC850CW device, maintaining identical DC Current Gain (hFE) minimum specifications of 420 @ 2mA, 5V and Vce Saturation characteristics of 600mV @ 5mA, 100mA. Both variants are RoHS3 compliant and carry AEC-Q101 automotive qualification. The primary distinction is packaging format: BC850CW,115 is supplied in Cut Tape (CT) & Digi-Reel® format, while BC850CW,135 is supplied in Tape & Reel (TR) format. Selection between these variants depends on manufacturing process requirements and assembly equipment compatibility.

BC847CW,115 and BC847CW,135 (Nexperia USA Inc.): These parts are parametric equivalents with identical DC Current Gain (hFE) minimum specifications of 420 @ 2mA, 5V, matching the main BC850CW device. However, these parts exhibit lower Vce Saturation characteristics at 400mV @ 5mA, 100mA compared to the BC850CW's 600mV specification. Both variants are RoHS3 compliant with MSL rating of 1 (Unlimited). BC847CW,115 is supplied in Cut Tape (CT) & Digi-Reel® format with 912,619 units in stock, while BC847CW,135 is supplied in Tape & Reel (TR) format with 15,718 units in stock.

BC847W,115 and BC847W,135 (Nexperia USA Inc. / NXP USA Inc.): These parts are upgrade substitutes with reduced DC Current Gain (hFE) minimum specifications of 110 @ 2mA, 5V and lower Vce Saturation of 400mV @ 5mA, 100mA. BC847W,115 is supplied by Nexperia USA Inc. in Tape & Reel (TR) format with MSL rating of 1 (Unlimited). BC847W,135 is supplied by NXP USA Inc. in Bulk format with automotive grade designation and AEC-Q101 qualification. These parts are suitable for applications where lower DC Current Gain is acceptable and lower saturation voltage is beneficial.

Selection of substitute parts should be based on:

Packaging format compatibility with manufacturing assembly equipment
DC Current Gain (hFE) requirements of the circuit design
Vce Saturation voltage tolerance in the application
Automotive qualification requirements (AEC-Q101) if applicable
Inventory availability and supply chain considerations

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can BC847CW,115 or BC847CW,135 be used as direct replacements for BC850CW?

A: BC847CW variants are parametric equivalents with identical DC Current Gain (hFE) minimum specifications of 420 @ 2mA, 5V. However, they exhibit lower Vce Saturation at 400mV compared to BC850CW's 600mV. These parts are electrically compatible in applications where lower saturation voltage is acceptable or beneficial. All other critical parameters including voltage, current, power, frequency, and package specifications are identical.

Q: What is the difference between BC850CW,115 and BC850CW,135?

A: Both parts are identical in electrical specifications and are direct parametric equivalents to the main BC850CW. The primary difference is packaging format: BC850CW,115 is supplied in Cut Tape (CT) & Digi-Reel® format suitable for automated pick-and-place assembly, while BC850CW,135 is supplied in Tape & Reel (TR) format. Selection depends on manufacturing process requirements and assembly equipment compatibility.

Q: Are BC847W variants suitable substitutes for BC850CW?

A: BC847W,115 and BC847W,135 are upgrade substitutes with reduced DC Current Gain (hFE) minimum of 110 @ 2mA, 5V compared to BC850CW's 420. These parts maintain all other critical electrical parameters including voltage, current, power, and frequency specifications. They are suitable for applications where lower DC Current Gain is acceptable. The lower Vce Saturation of 400mV may be advantageous in switching applications.

Q: Do all substitute parts have the same operating temperature range as BC850CW?

A: The main BC850CW specifies an operating temperature range of -55°C to 150°C. Substitute parts from Nexperia USA Inc. and NXP USA Inc. specify a maximum operating temperature of 150°C. Applications requiring the full -55°C to 150°C range should verify substitute part specifications against circuit requirements.

Q: Are the substitute parts RoHS3 compliant?

A: BC850CW,115, BC850CW,135, BC847CW,115, BC847CW,135, and BC847W,115 are all RoHS3 compliant. BC847W,135 does not specify RoHS status in the provided data. All parts are REACH Unaffected and classified as EAR99 for export control purposes.

Q: Which substitute parts have automotive qualification?

A: BC847W,135, BC850CW,115, and BC850CW,135 carry automotive grade designation with AEC-Q101 qualification. These parts are suitable for automotive applications requiring industry-standard reliability and qualification testing. Other substitute parts do not specify automotive qualification.

Q: What is the significance of MSL (Moisture Sensitivity Level) rating?

A: Substitute parts from Nexperia USA Inc. specify MSL rating of 1 (Unlimited), indicating these components have unlimited shelf life and do not require special moisture control during storage and handling. This simplifies supply chain management and reduces risk of moisture-related failures during assembly.

Q: Can I mix different substitute parts in the same production batch?

A: While all substitute parts meet the critical electrical parameters for NPN bipolar transistor functionality, mixing parts with different DC Current Gain (hFE) specifications (420 vs. 110) or Vce Saturation characteristics (600mV vs. 400mV) in the same production batch may result in circuit performance variations. Consistent part selection within a production batch is recommended for uniform circuit behavior.

Request Quote (Ships tomorrow)

Part Number

Quantity

Company

Contact Name

E-mail

Message