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Obsolete TO-92 Transistors: BC550C/BC560

Leestereo

Leestereo

Super Member
The BC550C (NPN) is listed as obsolete on Digi-Key but is still currently available at Mouser (but on back order). Its complement, BC560C (PNP) is also considered obsolete and even more difficult to find. Does anyone know of a reputable source for genuine BC550C/BC560C transistors in small quantities? Rochester Electronics has BC560C in stock but minimum order is 3235!
 
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jlb2 said:
Yes, that's strange, I can't find the BC550 or the BC560C - or both - in any of the main distributors either. Radiospares has BC560C's, if you don't mind buying 50 of them (https://www.rs-particuliers.com/Product.aspx?Product=5452484). If you don't need a voltage higher than 30V, the BC549/559 are available everywhere - or the BC547/557 if you need 45V and don't mind the higher noise.
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Digikey now resells Rochester stock on some obsolete parts. BC550 is one of them: https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/fairchild-semiconductor/BC550/11544689
 
I was looking for a few obsolete 2SC945's (26) but had to by the 280 pc lot from Rochester via Digikey but they were only .18 a piece so it didnt set me back more than 12 bucks. IIRC Rocheter wont ship outside USA and you have to tell them what its for if your not using a company letterhead.
 
Leestereo said:
The BC550C (NPN) is listed as obsolete on Digi-Key but is still currently available at Mouser (but on back order). Its complement, BC560C (PNP) is also considered obsolete and even more difficult to find. Does anyone know of a reputable source for genuine BC550C/BC560C transistors in small quantities? Rochester Electronics has BC560C in stock but minimum order is 3235!
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This is what I was able to find. They look reputable and seem to have been around quite awhile; I'm a novice though.

Well Gain Electronics
https://wellgainelectronics.com/346-transistors
LaVerne, CA
Philips bc550c $1.00
$25. min. ?
Use search, then scroll down past tweets

HB Electronics
http://www.hbelects.com/product-4800/BC550
Monterey Park, CA
BC550 $1.99

Donberg - Ireland
https://www.donberg.ie/catalogue/semiconductors/semiconductors_b-bc/bc_560c.html
BC560C $3.57
€30. min.
https://www.donberg.ie/descript/b/bc_550.htm
BC550 €1.08
€30. min.
 
pishta said:
I was looking for a few obsolete 2SC945's (26) but had to by the 280 pc lot from Rochester via Digikey but they were only .18 a piece so it didnt set me back more than 12 bucks. IIRC Rocheter wont ship outside USA and you have to tell them what its for if your not using a company letterhead.
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"Have to tell them what its for" ???

Probably they do not want "small customers"
 
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gslikker said:
"Have to tell them what its for" ???

Probably they do not want "small customers"
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Thats exactly why. When you're selling surplus/obsolete parts at a dime per part, you'll lose money on every customer that wants just a handful of those parts.

RocElec most likely bought about 10,000 or more of those transistors for a couple cents each when the manufacturer was shutting down fabrication, so they've been storing them in hopes of finding someone who'll buy most of the lot for a quick profit. If they have to pay someone to grab 10 pieces at a time for small customers, the handling alone will wreck their bottom line. So, buy their minimum. Transistors don't go bad sitting on a shelf for a few years, so if you buy several hundred you'll have a steady supply for your projects when everyone else in the world is scrambling because they can't find the proper part. Thats what I did when the minimums were at 100 pieces. Now I have these parts and the minimum orders are going up.
 
I think they are a DOD supplier so you have to tell them what its for for compliance reasons..(no laser rangefinders for export to Syria...?). I work at a phone company so I told them they are to repair old telephone switch gear cards. If anyone needs a few, .30 a piece! Just don't buy me out.....
 
Yeah. I haven't the equipment to really identify if they are genuine coming from Tayda, or not.
I read on diyaudio that someone got counterfeit ones there, but the poser didn't explain how he identified such.
The thing that irks me is the price - it's a fraction of what mouser/digikey was charging, and I find that odd.
 
I've had good luck buying from Tayda in the past, but it's been a few years. One thing to keep in mind is that they are not an authorized distributor for any vendor that I'm aware of. I believe that they are legit, but that doesn't mean that they can't get taken and end up with counterfeits. Hell, I've gotten fakes from Consolidated once, and I know Steve is on the up and up.
 
I bought some "Fairchild" BC550/BC560 from a UK dealer on the 'bay and they were not genuine. The BC550CTA is still available at one of the two big distributors, but 560 appear to be gone.

I went with the ONsemi BC546 and BC556 versions, which are otherwise identical except for their higher maximum voltage.
 
Nikko75 said:
I went with the ONsemi BC546 and BC556 versions, which are otherwise identical except for their higher maximum voltage.
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You might know things that I don't know, but according to the spec sheets, the higher-voltage parts have looser specs for noise figure.
 
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