The BC141 is a general purpose NPN silicon planar epitaxial transistor. This transistor is comes in TO-39 metal case packaging. In this article I’m sharing the Specification, Pinout configuration, Equivalents and other important information’s about BC141 NPN transistor.
What is BC141 Transistor
The transistor is primarily designed for use in audio amplifier circuits and medium power switching applications. This transistor can handling collector currents of up to 1 ampere. The collector emitter voltage rating of 60V and a transition frequency of 50 MHz. It also has a complementary PNP counterpart of BC161. These transistors are suitable for push-pull amplifier configurations.
BC141 Transistor Pinout
Pinout Configuration
Placing the flat surface and pins pointing up, The pins are counter clockwise as pin 1 emitter, pin 2 collector and pin 3 is emitter, The metal case is also acts as collector.
| Pin Number | Pin Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Emitter |
| 2 | Base |
| 3 | Collector |
| Case | Collector |
Transistor Specifications
| Parameter | Symbol | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collector-Base Voltage | VCBO | 100 | V |
| Collector-Emitter Voltage | VCEO | 60 | V |
| Emitter-Base Voltage | VEBO | 7 | V |
| Collector Current | IC | 1 | A |
| Base Current | IB | 0.1 | A |
| Total Power Dissipation (Tamb ≤ 25°C) | Ptot | 0.65 | W |
| Total Power Dissipation (Tc ≤ 25°C) | Ptot | 3.7 | W |
| Storage Temperature | Tstg | -55 to +175 | °C |
| Maximum Operating Junction Temp. | Tj | 175 | °C |
| Thermal Resistance Junction-Case | Rthj-case | 35 | °C/W |
| Thermal Resistance Junction-Air | Rthj-amb | 200 | °C/W |
| Collector Cutoff Current | ICES | 100 nA (at 25°C), 100 µA (150°C) | nA / µA |
| Collector-Emitter Saturation Voltage | VCE(sat) | 0.1 – 1 | V |
| Base-Emitter On Voltage | VBE(on) | 1.25 – 1.8 | V |
| DC Current Gain | hFE | 30 – 250 (depending on IC) | – |
| Transition Frequency | fT | 50 | MHz |
| Collector-Base Capacitance | CCBO | 12 – 25 | pF |
| Turn-On Time | ton | 250 | ns |
| Turn-Off Time | toff | 850 | ns |
Equivalent or Replacement
The equivalent transistors are given here as a replacements. You should always check the pin configurations and characteristics before replacing with the given transistors.
- 2N2219 – Similar NPN transistor in TO-39 package, used in switching and amplification.
- BD139 – Plastic package alternative, slightly higher power handling.
- TIP31 – Higher current-rated NPN transistor, suitable for power applications.
- BC337 – General-purpose NPN transistor, lower current rating.
- MJE182 – Medium power NPN transistor, similar electrical characteristics.
Applications
- Used in low to medium power amplifier stages.
- Switching circuits to switching the output loads up to 1A in electronic control systems.
- Can control LED arrays or high-brightness LEDs.
- Suitable for driving small relays.
- Used in voltage regulation or current control circuits.
- DC motor driving circuits.
- Signal amplification and conditioning circuits.
