2N5401 PNP Transistor: Pinout, Datasheet, and Equivalents

The 2N5401 is a high voltage PNP transistor that can be used in a variety of general purpose electronic applications that are operating from 150V or below. It is often used in telephone circuits and simple switching applications or amplification on high voltage. The 2N5401 is also readily available and easy to work with.

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Footprint

3D Model

• Available in Pb−Free package

• High collector breakdown voltage

• With  DC Current Gain (hFE) up to 100

• Maximum voltage across collector and emitter: 150V

• Maximum current allowed trough collector: 600mA

• Maximum voltage across collector and base: 160 V

• Maximum voltage across base and emitter: 5V

• Operating temperature range: -55ºC to +150ºC

• Maximum power dissipation : 0.62 W

Central Semiconductor 2N5401 technical specifications, attributes, parameters and parts with similar specifications to Central Semiconductor 2N5401.

2N5401 can be used like any general purpose PNP transistor, but for sake of understanding the working of this device let us look at a simple application circuit as shown below.

2N5096 Transistor Circuit

In the circuit above we are using 2N5401 as a simple switching device with the switching load being small DC motor. The button here is for providing the trigger to the transistor and 10KΩ resistor is for limiting the current to base and to avoid breaching maximum voltage allowed at the base. The circuit is powered from a negative voltage source of -5V DC as shown in diagram.

Before going for working let us revise the typical characteristics of a PNP transistor:

• The device does not conduct when the current does not flow out of the base of the transistor or the device conducts only when the base current that flows out of the device reaches a threshold.

• The current flow through collector is determined by the base current to a certain point. So with higher the gate current we have lower conduction resistance and higher the collector current.

• The PNP transistor conducts only when a threshold current flows out the base, so the instant the base current reaches zero the device stops conducting.

Consider the button is not pressed: When the button is not pressed there will be no base current and with no base current the transistor will not conduct based on the characteristics of PNP transistor. When the transistor does not conduct the entire voltage appears across it and the motor will be OFF.

Consider the button is pressed: When the button is pressed, the base of 2N5401 will be connected to negative power supply and so there will be a path for the current flow. When the base current flows out from the device it will start conducting as stated in characteristics. In the presence of this collector current flow a voltage appears across the motor connected in series with collector pin. In the presence of the voltage the motor will start rotating and it will stay like that until the button is released. The moment the button is released the base current will reaches zero, there by turning OFF the transistor and the motor.

In this way we can turn motor ON and OFF by using simple button as a trigger and 2N5401 as switching device. In high speed switching the trigger is provided by microcontroller instead of button.

• General purpose switching and amplification

• Telephony applications

• High voltage application

Since 1974, Central Semiconductor has manufactured innovative discrete semiconductors used in electronic products worldwide. Devices currently include standard and custom small signal transistors, bipolar power transistors, MOSFETs, diodes, rectifiers, protection devices, current limiting diodes, bridge rectifiers, thyristors, and silicon carbide devices. Central’s devices are available in industry standard surface mount and through-hole packages, bare die, TLMs (Tiny Leadless Modules™), and MDMs (Multi Discrete Modules™). Central has earned a reputation as a manufacturer of the highest quality products consistently delivered on-time, and a provider of exceptional value-added services.

Download datasheets and manufacturer documentation for Central Semiconductor 2N5401.