BCX56 BK NPN Bipolar Transistor Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The BCX56 BK is an NPN bipolar junction transistor manufactured by Central Semiconductor Corp, designed for surface mount applications in the SOT-89 package. This device operates at 80 V collector-emitter breakdown voltage with a maximum collector current of 1 A and transition frequency of 130 MHz. The BCX56 BK is classified as obsolete, necessitating identification of active equivalent and substitute parts for new designs and production continuity. Substitute parts must maintain electrical compatibility across critical parameters including voltage rating, current capacity, saturation characteristics, and thermal operating range.

Key Parameters

Parameter	BCX56 BK	Unit
Transistor Type	NPN	—
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max)	80	V
Current - Collector (Ic) (Max)	1	A
Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic	500mV @ 50mA, 500mA	V
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max)	100	nA
DC Current Gain (hFE) (Min) @ Ic, Vce	100 @ 150mA, 2V	—
Power - Max	1.3	W
Frequency - Transition	130	MHz
Operating Temperature Range	-65 to 150	°C
Mounting Type	Surface Mount	—
Package / Case	TO-243AA	—
Supplier Device Package	SOT-89	—
Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL)	1 (Unlimited)	—
Product Status	Obsolete	—

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution of the BCX56 BK is determined by strict electrical and mechanical compatibility across the following critical parameters:

Electrical Compatibility Criteria:

Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown: 80 V (exact match required)
Current - Collector (Ic) (Max): 1 A (exact match required)
Vce Saturation: 500mV @ 50mA, 500mA (exact match required)
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max): 100 nA (exact match required)
Transistor Type: NPN (exact match required)

Mechanical Compatibility Criteria:

Package / Case: TO-243AA (exact match required)
Supplier Device Package: SOT-89 or SOT-89-3 (pin-compatible variants acceptable)
Mounting Type: Surface Mount (exact match required)

Thermal Compatibility Criteria:

Operating Temperature Range: Minimum -65°C to 150°C (substitute must meet or exceed this range)

Acceptable Parameter Variations:

DC Current Gain (hFE): Substitute values of 40, 63, or 100 @ 150mA, 2V are acceptable
Power - Max: Substitute values of 500 mW, 1 W, 1.25 W, or 2 W are acceptable (equal to or greater than 1.3 W preferred)
Frequency - Transition: Substitute values of 130 MHz, 150 MHz, or 180 MHz are acceptable

All substitute parts listed maintain the core electrical specifications of the BCX56 BK while offering active product status and improved availability.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	BCX56 BK	BCX56-TP	BCX56,115	BCX56,135	BCX56-10,115	BCX56-10,135	BCX56-16,115	BCX56-16,135	BCX56-16,147	BCX5616QTA	BCX56TA	Unit
Transistor Type	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	—
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max)	80	80	80	80	80	80	80	80	80	80	80	V
Current - Collector (Ic) (Max)	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	A
Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic	500mV @ 50mA, 500mA	500mV @ 50mA, 500mA	500mV @ 50mA, 500mA	500mV @ 50mA, 500mA	500mV @ 50mA, 500mA	500mV @ 50mA, 500mA	500mV @ 50mA, 500mA	500mV @ 50mA, 500mA	500mV @ 50mA, 500mA	500mV @ 50mA, 500mA	500mV @ 50mA, 500mA	V
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max)	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	nA
DC Current Gain (hFE) (Min) @ Ic, Vce	100 @ 150mA, 2V	63 @ 150mA, 2V	63 @ 150mA, 2V	63 @ 150mA, 2V	63 @ 150mA, 2V	63 @ 150mA, 2V	100 @ 150mA, 2V	100 @ 150mA, 2V	100 @ 150mA, 2V	100 @ 150mA, 2V	40 @ 150mA, 2V	—
Power - Max	1.3	0.5	1.25	1.25	1.25	1.25	1.25	1.25	1.25	2	1	W
Frequency - Transition	130	130	180	180	180	180	180	180	180	150	150	MHz
Operating Temperature Range	-65 to 150	0 to 150	0 to 150	0 to 150	0 to 150	0 to 150	0 to 150	0 to 150	0 to 150	-65 to 150	-65 to 150	°C
Package / Case	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	—
Supplier Device Package	SOT-89	SOT-89	SOT-89	SOT-89	SOT-89	SOT-89	SOT-89	SOT-89	SOT-89	SOT-89-3	SOT-89-3	—
Manufacturer	Central Semiconductor Corp	Micro Commercial Co	Nexperia USA Inc.	NXP USA Inc.	Nexperia USA Inc.	Nexperia USA Inc.	Nexperia USA Inc.	Nexperia USA Inc.	Nexperia USA Inc.	Diodes Incorporated	Diodes Incorporated	—
Product Status	Obsolete	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	—
RoHS Status	—	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	—	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	—

Engineering Selection Recommendations

Primary Substitute Recommendation:

BCX56-16,115 and BCX56-16,135 (Nexperia USA Inc.) are the preferred substitutes for the BCX56 BK. Both parts maintain the exact electrical specifications of the original device, including 80 V breakdown voltage, 1 A maximum collector current, and 100 @ 150mA, 2V DC current gain. These parts are manufactured by Nexperia USA Inc., classified as active products with ROHS3 compliance and REACH unaffected status. The transition frequency of 180 MHz exceeds the original 130 MHz specification, providing enhanced performance margin. Operating temperature range extends to 150°C maximum, matching the original specification.

Secondary Substitute Recommendation:

BCX56,115 (Nexperia USA Inc.) provides an alternative with identical electrical parameters and active product status. This part is available in Cut Tape & Digi-Reel packaging with ROHS3 compliance.

Alternative Substitute Recommendation:

BCX5616QTA (Diodes Incorporated) offers enhanced power dissipation capability at 2 W maximum, exceeding the original 1.3 W specification. This part maintains all critical electrical parameters and operates across the full temperature range of -65°C to 150°C. The SOT-89-3 package variant is pin-compatible with the original SOT-89 package.

Conditional Substitute Recommendation:

BCX56TA (Diodes Incorporated) is suitable for applications where reduced power dissipation (1 W) is acceptable and lower DC current gain (40 @ 150mA, 2V) does not impact circuit performance. This part operates across the full temperature range and is ROHS3 compliant.

Not Recommended:

BCX56-TP (Micro Commercial Co) exhibits reduced power dissipation at 500 mW, below the original 1.3 W specification. This part is suitable only for applications with reduced power requirements. Operating temperature range is limited to 0°C to 150°C, excluding low-temperature operation below 0°C.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can BCX56-TP be used as a direct replacement for BCX56 BK?

A: BCX56-TP maintains electrical compatibility across voltage, current, and saturation specifications. However, the reduced power rating of 500 mW compared to the original 1.3 W limits its application scope. Use BCX56-TP only in circuits where power dissipation does not exceed 500 mW. Additionally, the operating temperature range of 0°C to 150°C excludes low-temperature operation below 0°C.

Q: What is the difference between SOT-89 and SOT-89-3 packages?

A: Both SOT-89 and SOT-89-3 are pin-compatible surface mount packages in the TO-243AA case style. The SOT-89-3 designation indicates a variant with enhanced thermal characteristics. Parts specified as SOT-89-3, including BCX5616QTA and BCX56TA, are mechanically and electrically compatible with circuits designed for SOT-89 packages.

Q: Which substitute part offers the best thermal performance?

A: BCX5616QTA (Diodes Incorporated) provides the highest power dissipation rating at 2 W maximum, compared to the original 1.3 W specification. This part is suitable for applications requiring enhanced thermal margin or higher power handling capability.

Q: Are all substitute parts ROHS3 compliant?

A: All active substitute parts listed—BCX56-TP, BCX56,115, BCX56-10,115, BCX56-10,135, BCX56-16,115, BCX56-16,135, BCX56-16,147, BCX5616QTA, and BCX56TA—are ROHS3 compliant. The original BCX56 BK does not specify RoHS status due to its obsolete classification.

Q: Can BCX56TA be used in applications requiring high DC current gain?

A: BCX56TA specifies a minimum DC current gain of 40 @ 150mA, 2V, compared to the original 100 @ 150mA, 2V. Applications requiring higher current gain should use BCX56-16,115, BCX56-16,135, BCX56-16,147, or BCX5616QTA, all of which maintain the 100 @ 150mA, 2V specification.

Q: What is the inventory status of substitute parts?

A: BCX56,115 (Nexperia USA Inc.) offers the highest inventory availability at 90,200 pieces. BCX56,135 (NXP USA Inc.) provides 161,047 pieces in bulk packaging. BCX56-16,147 (Nexperia USA Inc.) offers 14,932 pieces. All substitute parts are classified as active products with established supply chains.

Q: Are there packaging format differences among substitute parts?

A: Substitute parts are available in multiple packaging formats: Tape & Reel (TR), Cut Tape & Digi-Reel (CT), and Bulk. Selection of packaging format depends on production volume and handling requirements. All parts maintain identical electrical specifications regardless of packaging format.

Q: What is the REACH compliance status of substitute parts?

A: All substitute parts with specified REACH status are classified as REACH Unaffected, indicating compliance with EU chemical regulations. This status applies to BCX56-TP, BCX56,115, BCX56-10,115, BCX56-10,135, BCX56-16,115, BCX56-16,135, BCX56-16,147, BCX5616QTA, and BCX56TA.

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