current ubiquitous npn and pnp transistors?

[Jim Miller]

in the 70's it was the 2n2222 and 2n2907.

what's the darling pair today? is the 2n3904 the current npn utility? what's
the one for pnp?

btw, a google on npn transistor hits the '3904 immediately

tnx
jtm (30 years out of touch...)

 

[Paul Burridge]

On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 17:42:45 -0400, "Jim Miller"
<jim@removethisjtmiller.com> wrote:

in the 70's it was the 2n2222 and 2n2907.

what's the darling pair today? is the 2n3904 the current npn utility? what's
the one for pnp?

Er, the 2n3906.
--

"What is now proved was once only imagin'd." - William Blake, 1793.

 

[Joerg]

Hi Jim,

For me the 2907 is still going strong, for npn it's the BC846. SMT, of
course. But I usually go strictly by "bang for the buck", calculating in
fractions of pennies. For FETs it's BSS123 and BSS84, same reason.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

[Jim Miller]

thanks all

jtm

 

[John Fields]

On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 17:42:45 -0400, "Jim Miller"
<jim@removethisjtmiller.com> wrote:

in the 70's it was the 2n2222 and 2n2907.

what's the darling pair today? is the 2n3904 the current npn utility? what's
the one for pnp?

---
For me it's 2N4401 and 2N4403.
--
John Fields

 

[john jardine]

"Jim Miller" <jim@removethisjtmiller.com> wrote in message
news:2KOdnWsuLvZBR8TcRVn-oQ@comcast.com...

in the 70's it was the 2n2222 and 2n2907.

what's the darling pair today? is the 2n3904 the current npn utility?
what's
the one for pnp?

btw, a google on npn transistor hits the '3904 immediately

tnx
jtm (30 years out of touch...)


I go with (European), dirt cheap BC556, BC546

 

[John Larkin]

On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 22:21:22 GMT, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:

Hi Jim,

For me the 2907 is still going strong, for npn it's the BC846. SMT, of
course. But I usually go strictly by "bang for the buck", calculating in
fractions of pennies. For FETs it's BSS123 and BSS84, same reason.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

I like BCX70 (npn) and BCX71 (pnp) for general stuff. They're high
beta and slow enough to not cause trouble.

BFS17 is an interesting npn. It's pretty fast... will current steer 20
mA in 700 ps, but doesn't go crazy like really fast transistors like
NE68033 or whatever, which are convinced they were born to be
oscillators.

2N7002 (nmos, sot-23) is nice. They switch a lot faster than the
datasheet suggests, if you can pound the gate hard enough. Cheap.

John

 

[John Larkin]

On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 23:21:56 GMT, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:

Hi John,

I go with (European), dirt cheap BC556, BC546


Check the BC846. SMT but costs less than half.

So, what's the price in quantity?

John

 

[Jonathan Kirwan]

On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 17:42:45 -0400, "Jim Miller" <jim@removethisjtmiller.com>
wrote:

in the 70's it was the 2n2222 and 2n2907.

For me the TO-18 can is still king, so I like the 2N2222's when I can still get
in that form and not the silly TO-92 packaged PN2222's. There's also the TO-92
style 2N3904 and 2N3906 that are commonly specified NPN and PNP BJTs. And
2N4401/2N4402 or 2N4403/2N4404, again in those TO-92s. NMOS 2N7002 is pretty
common, too.

Most everything has gone to cheaper or smaller (or both) packaging and towards
SMT instead of through-hole. But I'm a hobbyist, so all those tiny grains of
rice they call SOT-23s aren't my first (or second) choice. And I'm never going
to like TO-92s. Sorry. So I'm for requiring all transistor manufacturers to
put every BJT and JFET and MOSFET they make (up to some limiting power rating)
into TO-18s that they make available at low cost in low volumes for hobbyists.
(Plus, they can write legible designations on those cans, too!)

They can still make their grains of salt for those who use them by the kilogram
or need to squeeze their circuit into a thimble, of course.

I want my TO-18!

Jon

 

[Joerg]

Hi John,

Check the BC846. SMT but costs less than half.


So, what's the price in quantity?


A little under 3 cents.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

[Jim Miller]

the old packages are certainly more convenient for fingers but everything
seems to be going surface mount. i just ran into it again this evening when
looking for a lmc6061 in dip for a new design. seems national discontinued
the dip in favor of all surface mount packages. pick and place rules i
guess.

actually now i'm trying to find something like a 3n163 in surface mount else
i'm going to have a pretty messy mixed board to try to layout.

i might just drill a hole for the 3n163 can and wire it in deadbug style
since the can could be grounded. the reason for wanting the dip on the '6061
was so that i could do the summing junction as a flying lead for low
leakage.

jtm