BC517 Transistor: Pinout, Alternatives and Datasheet

BC517 is an NPN darlington transistor that is composed of silicon material, manufactured in TO-92 package. 

Darlington transistor is a pair of combined two BJT transistor connected with each other in a wiring called darlington pair in a single package for obtaining high gain and to switch ON higher current on very small base current. 

One important feature that makes this transistor unique is its high amplification factor. 

It carries the current gain or amplification factor around 30,000. due to which this device can be used as a switch where there is very small or low amount of current base current is available and where other normal BJT NPN transistors are not saturating on that small current. 

It can drive 1.2A load at its output which is a good feature for driving variety of loads with very small current. It will also perform well in audio amplification stages in audio circuits.

It contains three pins known as collector, base, and emitter. The following figure shows the pinout of BC517.

Symbol

Footprint

3D Model

● Pb−Free

● Package Type: TO-92

● Transistor Type: NPN Darlington

● Max Collector Current(IC): 1.2A

● Max Collector-Emitter Voltage (VCE): 30V

● Max Collector-Base Voltage (VCB): 40V

● Max Emitter-Base Voltage (VEBO): 10V

● Max Collector Dissipation (Pc): 625 miliWatt

● Max Transition Frequency (fT): 200 MHz

● Minimum & Maximum DC Current Gain (hFE): 30000

● Max Storage & Operating temperature Should Be: -55 to +150 Centigrade

ON Semiconductor BC517 technical specifications, attributes, parameters and parts with similar specifications to ON Semiconductor BC517.

BC517 is a very high gain transistor, therefore it can be used to amplify low gain current signals to high gain, and it can be used in stages where there is requirement of amplifying low gain signals. 

For example in audio preamplifier stages it provides good gain to very weak audio signals. Besides audio circuits it can be used to amplify variety of low gain signals. 

When used as a switch it will become saturated on very small amount of current. It can be used to drive LEDs, Relays, motors, other transistors and parts of circuits in an electronic circuit under 1200mA. This is an ideal transistor to use in educational, hobby and commercial electronic circuits.

● Sensor Circuits

● Audio Preamplifiers

● Audio Amplifier Stages

● Switching Loads under 1.2A

● Battery Chargers

● Motor Driver

● Amplification and Switching purposes.

● H-bridge and Astable and Bistable Multivibrators.

● Control Motor.

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