BC546 NPN Silicon Transistor Pinout Datasheet

Introduction

The BC546 NPN Silicon Transistor is a widely used general-purpose transistor that belongs to the BC54x transistor family. It is primarily designed for low-noise, low-power signal amplification and switching applications. With its maximum collector-emitter voltage rating of 65V, the BC546 is particularly suitable for medium-voltage circuits compared to its counterparts like BC547 and BC548. This transistor is commonly found in audio frequency amplifiers, small signal processing, and general-purpose electronic circuits.

The BC546 transistor operates as a current-controlled device where a small base current controls a larger collector current, making it ideal for amplification. It features a maximum DC current gain (hFE) in the range of 110 to 800, depending on the version (A, B, or C suffix). Its low noise performance makes it a popular choice for sensitive input stages of audio amplifiers, preamplifiers, and RF circuits.

BC546 NPN Silicon Transistor

Due to its reliability, availability, and low cost, the BC546 NPN silicon transistor is a go-to choice for hobbyists, engineers, and designers. It is used in a wide variety of electronic projects including LED drivers, switching circuits, audio amplifiers, and signal processing modules. Its small TO-92 package makes it easy to integrate into breadboards and PCBs.

BC546 Pinout

BC546 Transistor Key Features

NPN silicon planar transistor.
High DC current gain (hFE).
Low noise figure for audio and RF applications.
TO-92 package for easy mounting.
Suitable for low-power switching and amplification.

Specifications/Characteristics of BC546 NPN Silicon Transistor

Maximum Collector-Base Voltage (Vcb): 80V
Maximum Collector-Emitter Voltage (Vce): 65V
Maximum Emitter-Base Voltage (Veb): 6V
Maximum Collector Current (Ic): 100mA
Total Power Dissipation (Ptot): 500mW
DC Current Gain (hFE): 110 – 800
Transition Frequency (ft): 150 MHz (typical)
Operating Junction Temperature: -65°C to +150°C
Package: TO-92 (plastic)

BC546 Pin Configuration

Pin#	Pin Name	Pin Description
1	Collector	Current flows in, connected to load
2	Base	Controls transistor switching and biasing
3	Emitter	Current flows out, usually grounded

BC546 Specifications Table

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Key Applications of BC546 NPN Silicon Transistor

Low-noise audio frequency amplifiers.
General-purpose signal amplification.
Switching applications up to 100mA load.
Sensor and detector circuits.
Oscillator and waveform generator circuits.
LED drivers and low-power loads.
RF circuits and small-signal processing.

PNP Complimentary Transistor

PNP Complementary of BC546 Transistor is BC556.

EquivalentTransistors of BC546

BC547 (lower voltage rating, 45V).
BC548 (general-purpose, 30V).
2N3904 (similar NPN transistor).
2N2222 (higher current capacity).
S8050 (low-cost alternative).

(Pin configuration of some transistors mentioned here may different from BC546).

Datasheet of BC546 NPN Silicon Transistor

Click the following Button below to download the datasheet of BC546 Transistor :

Download Datasheet

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