Transistor Info.

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A FAQ on this newsgroup [sci.electronics] is "I have a transistor marked ...,
what type is it?".In order to help answer these problems I have compiled a
description of the three major transistor marking codes. We are lucky with
transistors that, apart from a few oddities which I'll talk about later, most
markings follow one of these codes. ICs are more tricky as you're often dealing
with custom chips or mask programmed devices with manufacturers individual
codes. A quick hint though: always look for known numbers (eg 723, 6502,
2764) etc between the suffix and prefix, and beware of the date code.

Right, back to transistors. The three standard transistor marking schemes are:

1. Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC).

These take the form:

digit, letter, serial number, [suffix]

The letter is always 'N', and the first digit is one less than the number of
legs, (2 for transistors unless they're crippled although I'm not sure about
4 legged transistors maybe they get a 3) except for 4N and 5N which are
reserved for optocouplers. The serial number runs from 100 to 9999 and
tell nothing about the transistor except its approximate time of
introduction.

The (optional) suffix indicates the gain (hfe) group of the device:
A = low gain
B = medium gain
C = high gain
No suffix = ungrouped (any gain).
See the data sheet for the actual gain spread and groupings. The reason
for gain grouping is that the low gain devices are fractionally cheaper
than the high gain devices, resulting in savings for high volume users.
Examples- 2N3819, 2N2221A, 2N904.

2. Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS).

These take the form:

 digit, two letters, serial number, [suffix]

Again, the digit is one less than the number of legs.

The letters indicate the applicatin area and flavour of the device
according to the following code:
SA: PNP HF transistor SB: PNP AF transistor
SC: NPN HF transistor SD: NPN AF transistor
SE: Diodes SF: Thyristors
SG: Gunn devices SH: UJT
SJ: P-channel FET/MOSFET SK: N-channel
FET/MOSFET
SM: Triac SQ: LED
SR: Rectifier SS: Signal diodes
ST:>

Överföring avbröts!

diodes SV: Varicaps SZ: Zener diodes The serial number

runs from 10-9999. The (optional) suffix indicates that the type is
approved for use by various Japanese organizations.

NOTE: since the code for transistors always begins with 2S, it is
sometimes (more often than not is seems) ommitted so, for example, a
2SC733 would be marked C 733.
Examples- 2SA1187, 2SB646, 2SC733.

3. Pro-electron.

These take the form:

two letters, [letter], serial number, [suffix]

The first letter indicates the material:

A = Ge
B = Si
C = GaAs
R = compound materials.
Needless to say the biggest majority of transistors begin with a B.

The second letter indicates the device application:

A: Diode RF
B: Variac
 C: transistor, AF, small signal
D: transistor, AF, power
E: Tunnel diode
F: transistor, HF, small signal
K: Hall effect device
L: Transistor, HF, power
N: Optocoupler
P: Radiation sensitive device
Q: Radiation producing device
R: Thyristor, Low power
T: Thyristor, Power
U: Transistor, power, switching
Y: Rectifier
Z: Zener, or voltage regulator diode
The third letter indicates that the device is intended for industrial or
professional rather than commercial applications. It is usually a W,X,Y
or Z. The serial number runs from 100-9999. The suffix indicates the
gain grouping, as for JEDEC.
Examples- BC108A, BAW68, BF239, BFY51.

Apart from JEDEC, JIS and Pro-electron, manufacturers often introduce their
own types, for commercial reasons (ie to get their name into the code) or to
emphasise that the range belongs to a specialist application.
Common brand specific prefixes are:
MJ: Motorolla power, metal case
MJE: Motorolla power, plastic case
MPS: Motorolla low power, plastic case
MRF: Motorolla HF, VHF and microwave transistor
RCA: RCA
RCS: RCS
TIP: Texas Instruments power transistor (platic case)
TIPL: TI planar power transistor
TIS: TI small signal transistor (plastic case)
ZT: Ferranti
ZTX: Ferranti
Examples- ZTX302, TIP31A, MJE3055, TIS43.

Many manufacturers also make custom parts for large volume OEM use. These
parts are optimised for use in a given part of a given circuit. They usually just
have a manufacturers stamp and an untraceable number. Often when a
company goes bankrupt, or has surplus at the end of a production run, these
transistors find their way into hobbyist bargain packs. There is no way that you
can trace data on these devices, so they are only suitable as LED drivers,
buffers, etc, where the actual parameters are not important. Check carefully
before buying.