DCX68-13 Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The DCX68-13 is an NPN bipolar junction transistor manufactured by Diodes Incorporated, rated for 20 V collector-emitter breakdown voltage and 1 A maximum collector current. The device is packaged in SOT-89-3 surface mount configuration with a maximum power dissipation of 1 W and transition frequency of 330 MHz. The DCX68-13 is classified as obsolete, necessitating identification of active equivalent and substitute components for new designs and production continuity. Substitute parts must maintain electrical compatibility within the specified voltage, current, and thermal operating ranges while accommodating packaging and performance variations.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Value	Unit
Transistor Type	NPN	—
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max)	20	V
Current - Collector (Ic) (Max)	1	A
Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic	500 mV @ 100 mA, 1 A	—
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max)	100	nA
DC Current Gain (hFE) (Min) @ Ic, Vce	85 @ 500 mA, 1 V	—
Power - Max	1	W
Frequency - Transition	330	MHz
Operating Temperature	-55 to 150	°C
Mounting Type	Surface Mount	—
Package / Case	TO-243AA	—
Supplier Device Package	SOT-89-3	—
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant	—
Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL)	1 (Unlimited)	—

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution of the DCX68-13 is determined by strict adherence to the following electrical and mechanical parameters:

Primary Substitution Criteria:

Transistor Type: NPN (required match)
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max): 20 V (required match)
Current - Collector (Ic) (Max): 1 A minimum (equal or greater acceptable)
Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic: 500 mV @ 100 mA, 1 A (required match or lower)
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max): 100 nA (required match or lower)
DC Current Gain (hFE) (Min) @ Ic, Vce: 85 @ 500 mA, 1 V (required match or greater)
Power - Max: 1 W minimum (equal or greater acceptable)
Mounting Type: Surface Mount (required match)
Package / Case: TO-243AA (required match)
RoHS Status: ROHS3 Compliant (required match)
Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL): 1 (Unlimited) (required match)

Secondary Considerations:

Frequency - Transition: 330 MHz (reference value; substitutes may vary)
Operating Temperature Range: -55°C to 150°C (reference range; substitutes may extend)
Product Status: Active preferred; Last Time Buy acceptable; Obsolete not recommended

Substitutes are grouped into three categories: Direct Equivalents (matching all primary criteria with active status), Functional Equivalents (matching primary criteria with enhanced specifications), and Automotive-Grade Alternatives (matching primary criteria with AEC qualification).

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	DCX68-13	BCX6825TA	BC868,115	2PD2150,115	BC868-25,115	BCP68T1G	BCX6810H6327XTSA1	CBCX68 TR PBFREE	PBSS4320X,135	PBSS4520X,135
Transistor Type	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN	NPN
Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max) [V]	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20
Current - Collector (Ic) (Max) [A]	1	1	1	3	2	1	1	1	3	5
Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic [mV]	500 @ 100 mA, 1 A	500 @ 100 mA, 1 A	500 @ 100 mA, 1 A	500 @ 100 mA, 2 A	600 @ 200 mA, 2 A	500 @ 100 mA, 1 A	500 @ 100 mA, 1 A	500 @ 100 mA, 1 A	310 @ 300 mA, 3 A	220 @ 500 mA, 5 A
Current - Collector Cutoff (Max) [nA]	100	100	100	100	100	10000	100	100	100	100
DC Current Gain (hFE) (Min) @ Ic, Vce	85 @ 500 mA, 1 V	160 @ 500 mA, 1 V	85 @ 500 mA, 1 V	180 @ 100 mA, 2 V	160 @ 500 mA, 1 V	85 @ 500 mA, 1 V	85 @ 500 mA, 1 V	85 @ 500 mA, 1 V	200 @ 2 A, 2 V	250 @ 2 A, 2 V
Power - Max [W]	1	1	1.2	2	0.5	1.5	3	1.2	1.6	0.55
Frequency - Transition [MHz]	330	100	170	220	170	60	100	65	100	125
Operating Temperature [°C]	-55 to 150	-65 to 150	150	150	150	-65 to 150	150	-65 to 150	150	150
Mounting Type	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount
Package / Case	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	TO-261-4, TO-261AA	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	TO-243AA	TO-243AA
Supplier Device Package	SOT-89-3	SOT-89-3	SOT-89	SOT-89	SOT-89	SOT-223 (TO-261)	PG-SOT89	SOT-89	SOT-89	SOT-89
RoHS Status	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	Not specified	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant
Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)
Product Status	Obsolete	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Last Time Buy	Active	Active	Active
Manufacturer	Diodes Incorporated	Diodes Incorporated	Nexperia USA Inc.	NXP Semiconductors	Nexperia USA Inc.	onsemi	Infineon Technologies	Central Semiconductor Corp	Nexperia USA Inc.	Nexperia USA Inc.

Engineering Selection Recommendations

Direct Equivalents (Preferred for Pin-Compatible Replacement):

BCX6825TA (Diodes Incorporated) is the primary direct equivalent. It maintains identical electrical specifications for voltage, current, saturation voltage, and current gain at the reference operating point. The device is active status with extended operating temperature range (-65°C to 150°C). Transition frequency is reduced to 100 MHz, which is acceptable for applications not requiring the full 330 MHz bandwidth of the original part. This part is recommended for direct substitution in existing designs.

BC868,115 (Nexperia USA Inc.) provides functional equivalence with matching voltage, current, and saturation specifications. Transition frequency of 170 MHz and power rating of 1.2 W exceed minimum requirements. The part is active status and ROHS3 compliant. Operating temperature specification is limited to 150°C maximum without lower bound specification.

CBCX68 TR PBFREE (Central Semiconductor Corp) matches all primary electrical criteria with active status. Transition frequency of 65 MHz and power rating of 1.2 W are acceptable. Operating temperature range extends to -65°C, providing enhanced low-temperature performance.

Functional Equivalents (Enhanced Current Capability):

2PD2150,115 (NXP Semiconductors) provides enhanced current capability at 3 A maximum collector current while maintaining 20 V voltage rating and 500 mV saturation voltage at 2 A. Transition frequency of 220 MHz and power rating of 2 W exceed original specifications. This part is suitable for applications requiring higher current handling within the same voltage envelope.

BC868-25,115 (Nexperia USA Inc.) provides 2 A maximum collector current with 20 V voltage rating. Saturation voltage increases to 600 mV at 2 A, which remains within acceptable limits for most applications. Power rating of 500 mW is reduced compared to the original 1 W specification and must be verified for thermal compliance in the target application.

Automotive-Grade Alternatives:

BCX6810H6327XTSA1 (Infineon Technologies) is qualified to AEC-Q101 automotive standard with Last Time Buy status. Electrical specifications match the original part exactly. Power rating of 3 W and transition frequency of 100 MHz provide enhanced performance margin. This part is suitable for automotive applications requiring AEC qualification.

PBSS4320X,135 (Nexperia USA Inc.) is qualified to AEC-Q100 automotive standard with 3 A maximum collector current. Saturation voltage of 310 mV at 3 A is superior to the original specification. Transition frequency of 100 MHz and power rating of 1.6 W are acceptable. This part is suitable for automotive applications with higher current requirements.

PBSS4520X,135 (Nexperia USA Inc.) is qualified to AEC-Q100 automotive standard with 5 A maximum collector current. Saturation voltage of 220 mV at 5 A provides excellent performance. Power rating of 550 mW is reduced and must be verified for thermal compliance. Transition frequency of 125 MHz is acceptable.

Package Consideration:

BCP68T1G (onsemi) uses SOT-223 (TO-261) package instead of SOT-89-3. This part is not pin-compatible with the original DCX68-13 and requires PCB layout modification. It is suitable only for new designs where package change is acceptable. Electrical specifications match the original part with 1.5 W power rating and 60 MHz transition frequency.

Inventory and Availability:

BCX6825TA has highest inventory availability at 23,100 pieces. BC868,115 has 11,533 pieces. PBSS4320X,135 has 11,597 pieces. CBCX68 TR PBFREE has 4,562 pieces. BCX6810H6327XTSA1 has 792 pieces with Last Time Buy status. BCX6816H6327XTSA1 has 736 pieces with Obsolete status and is not recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can BCX6825TA be used as a direct replacement for DCX68-13?

A: Yes. BCX6825TA is electrically compatible with DCX68-13 for all primary operating parameters: 20 V voltage rating, 1 A maximum collector current, 500 mV saturation voltage, and 85 minimum current gain. The part is pin-compatible in SOT-89-3 package and is active status. Transition frequency is reduced from 330 MHz to 100 MHz, which is acceptable for applications not requiring the full bandwidth of the original part.

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

A: SOT-89-3 and SOT-89 are functionally equivalent three-terminal surface mount packages with identical pin configuration and footprint. The designation difference reflects minor variations in manufacturing specifications. Parts specified as SOT-89 are compatible with SOT-89-3 PCB layouts.

Q: Why does BCP68T1G use a different package (SOT-223)?

A: BCP68T1G is manufactured in SOT-223 (TO-261) package, which has a different footprint and pin configuration than the SOT-89-3 package of the original DCX68-13. This part requires PCB layout modification and is suitable only for new designs where package change is acceptable. For direct replacement in existing PCBs, use parts specified in SOT-89-3 or SOT-89 packages.

Q: Are automotive-grade parts (BCX6810H6327XTSA1, PBSS4320X,135) required for non-automotive applications?

A: No. Automotive-grade parts with AEC qualification are not required for non-automotive applications. They are suitable for use in non-automotive designs but offer no functional advantage over standard-grade equivalents. Selection should be based on application requirements and cost considerations.

Q: What is the significance of "Last Time Buy" status for BCX6810H6327XTSA1?

A: Last Time Buy status indicates that the manufacturer has announced end-of-life for this part. Inventory is limited and will not be replenished after current stock is exhausted. This part should be used only if automotive AEC-Q101 qualification is specifically required. For new designs, use active-status alternatives such as BCX6825TA or CBCX68 TR PBFREE.

Q: Can parts with higher current ratings (2PD2150,115, PBSS4320X,135, PBSS4520X,135) be used in applications designed for 1 A maximum current?

A: Yes. Parts with higher current ratings are backward-compatible with applications designed for lower current. The higher current rating provides additional design margin and does not affect circuit operation at lower current levels. Verify that power dissipation remains within acceptable limits for the target application.

Q: What is the impact of reduced transition frequency in substitute parts?

A: Transition frequency (fT) determines the maximum frequency at which the transistor maintains useful gain. The original DCX68-13 has 330 MHz transition frequency. Substitute parts range from 60 MHz to 220 MHz. For applications operating below the substitute part's transition frequency, there is no functional impact. For applications requiring operation near or above the substitute part's transition frequency, circuit performance may be degraded. Verify that the substitute part's transition frequency exceeds the maximum operating frequency of the target application by an adequate margin.

Q: Are all substitute parts ROHS3 compliant?

A: All substitute parts listed are ROHS3 compliant except 2PD2150,115, which does not specify RoHS status. For applications requiring ROHS3 compliance, use BCX6825TA, BC868,115, BC868-25,115, BCP68T1G, BCX6810H6327XTSA1, CBCX68 TR PBFREE, PBSS4320X,135, or PBSS4520X,135.

Q: What is Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL) and why is it important?

A: Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL) indicates the maximum time a component can be exposed to ambient conditions (23°C, 50% relative humidity) before soldering without risk of moisture-induced damage. MSL 1 (Unlimited) means the component has no moisture sensitivity restriction and can be stored indefinitely under standard conditions. All listed parts have MSL 1 rating, indicating no special moisture control requirements during handling and storage.

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