BC546 thru BC548

Vishay Semiconductors
formerly General Semiconductor

Small Signal Transistors (NPN)

TO-226AA (TO-92)

Features
NPN Silicon Epitaxial Planar Transistors
These transistors are subdivided into three groups
A, B, and C according to their current gain.
The type BC546 is available in groups A and B,
however, the types BC547 and BC548 can be
supplied in all three groups. As complementary
types the PNP transistors BC556...BC558 are
recommended.
On special request, these transistors are also
manufactured in the pin configuration TO-18.

0.142 (3.6)

min. 0.492 (12.5) 0.181 (4.6)

0.181 (4.6)

Mechanical Data
max.
0.022 (0.55)
0.098 (2.5)

Dimensions in inches
and (millimeters)

Case: TO-92 Plastic Package

Weight: approx. 0.18g
Packaging Codes/Options:
E6/Bulk 5K per container, 20K/box
E7/4K per Ammo mag., 20K/box

Bottom
View

Maximum Ratings & Thermal Characteristics

Parameter

Ratings at 25C ambient temperature unless otherwise specified.

Symbol

Value

Unit

Collector-Base Voltage

BC546
BC547
BC548

VCBO

80
50
30

Collector-Emitter Voltage

BC546
BC547
BC548

VCES

80
50
30

Collector-Emitter Voltage

BC546
BC547
BC548

VCEO

65
45
30

BC546, BC547
BC548

VEBO

6
5

IC

100

mA

Peak Collector Current

ICM

200

mA

Peak Base Current

IBM

200

mA

Peak Emitter Current

-IEM

200

mA

Emitter-Base Voltage
Collector Current

Power Dissipation at Tamb = 25C

Thermal Resistance Junction to Ambient Air

Ptot
RJA

(1)

mW

(1)

C/W

500
250

Junction Temperature

Tj

150

Storage Temperature Range

TS

65 to +150

Note: (1) Valid provided that leads are kept at ambient temperature at a distance of 2 mm from case.

Document Number 88160

08-May-02

www.vishay.com
1

BC546 thru BC548

Vishay Semiconductors
formerly General Semiconductor

Electrical Characteristics (T

= 25C unless otherwise noted)

Parameter

Symbol

Test Condition

Min

Typ

Max

Unit

A
B
C

hfe

VCE = 5 V, IC = 2 mA,
f = 1 kHz

220
330
600

A
B
C

hie

VCE = 5 V, IC = 2 mA,
f = 1 kHz

1.6
3.2
6

2.7
4.5
8.7

4.5
8.5
15

A
B
C

hoe

VCE = 5 V, IC = 2 mA,
f = 1kHz

18
30
60

30
60
110

hre

VCE = 5 V, IC = 2 mA,
f = 1kHz

1.5 10-4
2 10-4
3 10-4

VCE = 5 V, IC = 10 A

90
150
270

VCE = 5 V, IC = 2 mA

110
200
420

180
290
500

220
450
800

VCE = 5 V, IC = 100 mA

120
200
400

Current gain group

Small Signal Current Gain

Current gain group

Input Impedance
Current gain group

Output Admittance
Current gain group

Reverse Voltage Transfer Ratio

Current gain group

Current gain group

DC Current Gain
Current gain group

A
B
C
A
B
C
A
B
C

hFE

A
B
C

Collector Saturation Voltage

VCEsat

IC = 10 mA, IB = 0.5 mA
IC = 100 mA, IB = 5 mA

80
200

200
600

mV

Base Saturation Voltage

VBEsat

IC = 10 mA, IB = 0.5 mA
IC = 100 mA, IB = 5 mA

700
900

mV

VBE

VCE = 5 V, IC = 2 mA
VCE = 5 V, IC = 10 mA

580

660

700
720

mV

VCE = 80 V
VCE = 50 V
VCE = 30 V
VCE = 80 V, Tj = 125C
VCE = 50 V, Tj = 125C
VCE = 30 V, Tj = 125C

0.2
0.2
0.2

15
15
15
4
4
4

nA
nA
nA
A
A
A

fT

VCE = 5 V, IC = 10 mA,
f = 100 MHz

300

MHz

Collector-Base Capacitance

CCBO

VCB = 10 V, f = 1 MHz

3.5

pF

Emitter-Base Capacitance

CEBO

VEB = 0.5 V, f = 1 MHz

pF

VCE = 5 V, IC = 200 A,
RG = 2 k, f = 1 kHz,
f = 200 Hz

10

dB

Base-Emitter Voltage

Collector-Emitter
Cutoff Current

BC546
BC547
BC548
BC546
BC547
BC548

Gain-Bandwidth Product

Noise Figure

www.vishay.com
2

BC546, BC547
BC548

ICES

Document Number 88160

08-May-02

BC546 thru BC548

Vishay Semiconductors
formerly General Semiconductor

Ratings and
Characteristic Curves (TA = 25C unless otherwise noted)

Document Number 88160

08-May-02

www.vishay.com
3

BC546 thru BC548

Vishay Semiconductors
formerly General Semiconductor

Ratings and
Characteristic Curves (TA = 25C unless otherwise noted)

www.vishay.com
4

Document Number 88160

08-May-02

BC546 thru BC548

Vishay Semiconductors
formerly General Semiconductor

Ratings and
Characteristic Curves (TA = 25C unless otherwise noted)

Document Number 88160

08-May-02

www.vishay.com
5