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Transistor Substitutions

I know I'm way, way late to this party, but I tripped across this thread and figured I'd add my humble contribution in case someone might find it useful. This is a list I've been compiling over the years, culled directly from the hard work and resulting posts of those here that know what they are doing. I just filled in the blanks as I went along, using the suggestions that were researched here by those a lot more talented than me in this arena. Because of this, there may be errors or some inappropriate subs depending on what the circuit needs, but for the most part I think it might be a pretty decent jumping-off point for folks that are looking for substitutes. So far it has helped me out a few times.

If it is wholesale crap.... please let me know and I'll delete it. :)

Transistor substitutes
2SA484 KSA940TU
2SA493 KSA992
2SA497 KSA1013YBU
2SA561 KSA1013
2SA564AC KSA733CGB, KSA992FBU, KSA992FTU
2SA572 KSA992FBU
2SA569 KSA733
2SA606 2N5416
2SA628 KSA1013 *watch pin outs
2SA640 KSA992FBU
2SA663 MJ21193G
2SA671 TIP32CG
2SA673A KSA1013Y, BC327
2SA679 MJ21193G, MJ211195, MJ15004
2SA680 MJ21193G
2SA682 MJE253G
2SA684 KSA1220YSTU OR AYS
2SA706 KSA1220
2SA720 KSA1013
2SA722 KSA992FBU
2SA725 KSA992FBU
2SA726 KSA992FBU
2SA726 KSA992FBU
2SA733 KSA733G OR KSA992
2SA733 KSB1116
2SA747 MJ21193
2SA763 KSA992FBU
2SA798F
2SA814 2SA940TU
2SA823 KSA992
2SA899 KSA1220A
2SA905 KSA1220
2SA912 KSA1013
2SA981 MJ21193G
2SA1050 MJ21193G
2SA1051B 2SA1943
2SA1117 2SA1494
2SB507D-E MJE15031
2SB507P-E MJE15033G or KSA940TU
2SB526 2SA940 or TIP32CG
2SB527 KSA1220AYS
2SB528 2SA940, MJE15029,MJE15031
2SB530 MJ21193G
2SB536 2SA940 or TIP32CG
2SB537 MJE15031
2SB539 MJ21193G
2SB545 MJ21193G
SBD648A 2SB649A
2SB682 MJE15033G
2SB712 SC2073
2SC283 KSC1845 / KSC2073
2SC357 KSC2690
2SC372 KSC1845
2SC458 BC549, BC550, KSC1845, 2SC2240
2SC461 2SC945,KSC945
2SC461B KSD1616
2SC484 KSC2073TU
2SC485 KSC1845 / KSC2073TU
2SC497 KSC2383YBU
2SC608 2SC3858
2SC693 KSC1845
2SC732 KSC1845EBU
2SC734 2SC1815 or 2SC1845 0r KSC945
2SC735 BC337, BC637, BC639
2SC790 TIP41C
2SC793 MJ21194G
2SC828 2SC1845FTA
2SC829 KSC1845
2SC857 KSC2310YBU
2SC869 KSC2383/KSC2310
2SC870 KSC1845EBU
2SC871 KSC1845EBU
2SC905 KSD1616AGTA
2SC945 KSC945CLT or KSD1616A
2SC945A KSC2383
2SC959 2N3440
2SC984 KSC2383
2SC1060 KSD526
2SC1061 TIP31CG
2SC1079 MJ21196, MJ21194, MJ15003
2SC1080 MJ21194G
2SC1116 MJ21194
2SC1124 KSC2690AYS
2SC1175A KSC1845
2SC1212 KSC2690
2SC1213 KSC2383YBU
2SC1214 BC337
2SC1222 KSC1845
2SC1312 KSC1845
2SC1313 KSC1845
2SC1318 KSC2690 or KSC2383
2SC1318 KSC2690
2SC1328 KSC1845FTA
2SC1344 KSC1845
2SC1344 KSC1845
2SC1345 KSC1845FTA
2SC1345 KSC1845
2SC1364 KSC2383
2SC1384 KSC2690AYS or KSC2383YBU
2SC1407 2SD1207 (863-2SD1207T @mouser)
2SC1416 KSC1845
2SC1438V KSC22316Y
2SC1451 KSC3503estu
2SC1451 KSC3503estu
2SC1515 KSC2310YBU
2SC1624 KSC2073TU or MJE15030G
2SC1647 KSD1616ALBU
2SC1649 KSC1845
2SC1708 KSC1845
2SC1885 KSC2383
2SC1904
2SC1915 KSC2690
2SC1919G KSC1845F
2SC2261 MJ21194G
2SC2460 MJ21194G
2SC2575 KSC2383
2SD188 MJ21194G
2SD234 512-KSD526Y
2SD287 MJ21194G
2SD313 KSC2073 or MJE15032G
2SD313 D OR E MJE15030G
2SD325 SC2073 or TIP31CG
2SD356 SC2073 or TIP31CG
2SD357 KSC2690AYS
2SD358 KSC2690, MJE15028, MJE15030
2SD370 MJ21194G
2SD381 KSC2073
2SD382 MJE15030
2SD425 MJ15022G 0R MJ15023G
2SD668A 2SD669A
2SD669 KSC3503
2SD712C MJE15032G
 
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Uncle Bambi said:
I know I'm way, way late to this party, but I tripped across this thread and figured I'd add my humble contribution in case someone might find it useful.

. . .

If it is wholesale crapl.... please let me know and I'll delete it. :)

Transistor substitutes
2SA484 KSA940TU
2SA493 KSA992
2SA497 KSA1013YBU
2SA561 KSA1013
2SA564AC KSA733CGB, KSA992FBU
Click to expand...

There is definitely value here. I'll share a couple of things and perhaps help this thread, too.

The part number or model number for modern transistors can get confused pretty easily as distributors and sellers often add to the base model number in their online listings:

Most transistors will have a base model or part number. Some examples:

KSC2383
2N3904
KSC1845

There are a FEW transistors who have a new-version designation added to the base model or part number. The only one she I've seen have had an "A" added, but that is my my experience

The KSA1220 has a newer version numbered KSA1220A which has different (better) specs than the prior KSA1220

Many times a transistor will have its HFE or gain class rating tacked on to the end of the part number:

a KSC1845 with a hfe gain rating of F will be listed as KSC1845F which does NOT mean it is a KSC1845F, but rather it is a KSC1845 with a gain rating of F (and therefore you need to look up what gain F is in the KSC1845 datasheet).

Mouser (and others, no doubt) will often tack on the "what kind of packaging we have this part in" to the part number.

KSC1845's in the F hfe rating range which are packaged in cut tape (indicated by the letters "TA") might be listed as KSC1845FTA

and the same part with the same hfe range but which is sold in bulk (loose, separated parts) might be listed as KSC1845FBU

Lastly, some transistors offer a "center collector" version where that particular model of that particular part has the pinouts switched so the collector is the center pin. That is mainly to fit common-replacements for parts that had a center collector pin. So:

KSC945 is a KSC945 with its normal pinout (look at the data sheet for what that means in this part) and...
KSC945C is a KSC945 whose pinouts have been switched so the center pin is the collector


So, when accumulating a list of modern part numbers, you'll need to weed out the distributor-level added-on letters from the actual part number so future list-users are not frustrated by a change in lettering by the distributor and not limited to finding only KSC1845's in cut tape (since some of that exact part might be available in bulk or ammo packs instead).

That said, rock on! Your work is valuable!
 
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Nice list! There are a few errors with some part numbers and such, I'll help with correcting them when I have a free moment. I did find:

Uncle Bambi said:
2SC1438V KSC22316Y
Click to expand...

That's supposed to be KSC2316YTA. Also, for that transistor a KSC1845 will work as well in most circuits. It should stressed that these lists are just recommendations! Replacements that are recommended here may work in one circuit but not be ideal or work at all in another one. Always make sure to research the circuit that the transistor is operating in and the role it's supposed to fulfill to help determine the correct replacement.
 
Another thing about generic transistor replacement lists is the replacement part isn't always good for every application. For instance, always replacing a 2SC2240 with a KSC1845 may not be right. In one application of the 2SC2240 in a low current low voltage preamp circuit, the use of a KSC1845 might be right, but in a different preamp where the current was higher and the 2SC2240 was fine because it handles more current, the KSC1845 might fail because it only handles very low current.

So, there will be those who say "a generic transistor substitution list is crap" and this will part of their argument.

One way to avoid the list being a bad thing would be to carefully and repeatedly say "these substitutions are a starting point only. You need to examine the replacement device and its specs for your specific application to validate it is right." Or something non-legalese that helps a newbie like me recognize "just because there is a substitution for my failed device doesn't mean it will work in all situations. This list has helped me narrow down the candidates, but I need to understand my schematic, understand the operating conditions of this device in that circuit, and look up those in the data sheet for the substitution device. And ask AK in my own thread."
 
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While we're at it....here's a list I've been working on for a while, added a few thanks to the prior postings. It has additional info on bad transistors and the like, gathered from posts around the site by well-known members. Next thing I need to do if check all the PN's and make sure they are still available or that they haven't changed. Hope this helps someone, it's the biggest list I've seen around.
 

Attachments

dlucy said:
- . For instance, always replacing a 2N2240 with a KAC1845F may not be right. In one application of the 2N2240 in a low current low voltage preamp circuit, the use of a KSC1845F might be right, but in a different preamp where the current was higher and the 2N2240 was fine because it handles more current, the KSC1845F might fail because it only handles very low current.
."
Click to expand...
To assuage my inner nitpicker - Never seen a 2n2240 in audio circuits (had to look it up) BUT 2sc2240 is pretty common....(and is usually crossed to the ksc1845)
BU, TA and some other letters refer to packaging, not the part itself (BU means bulk, TA is tape, and there are a few others)
Original 2sc945 and 2sa733 were center lead collector parts, and were marked c945 and a733. Koreans reeked havoc on the audio world when KSC945 and KSA733 appeared as base centered parts.
Often A or B suffix are higher voltage rated parts. Most other suffixes are gain (hfe) ranges (Y, GR, BL, O and D,E,F are most common.
 
sregor said:
To assuage my inner nitpicker - Never seen a 2n2240 in audio circuits (had to look it up) BUT 2sc2240 is pretty common....(and is usually crossed to the ksc1845)
BU, TA and some other letters refer to packaging, not the part itself (BU means bulk, TA is tape, and there are a few others)
Original 2sc945 and 2sa733 were center lead collector parts, and were marked c945 and a733. Koreans reeked havoc on the audio world when KSC945 and KSA733 appeared as base centered parts.
Often A or B suffix are higher voltage rated parts. Most other suffixes are gain (hfe) ranges (Y, GR, BL, O and D,E,F are most common.
Click to expand...

Nits picked and accepted. I hope my general points were understood and provided value.
 
Replacing transistors can be a minefield.
I replaced the output transistors in a 1980's Maplin disco amp 225WRMS.
I then got oscillation on the output. I had to put in bigger VAS capacitor to slow things down.
The new transistor had a much higher gain than the originals.
And that was with same number 2N3055/MJ2955 so using different transistors could be troublesome.
 
nigelwright said:
Replacing transistors can be a minefield.
I replaced the output transistors in a 1980's Maplin disco amp 225WRMS.
I then got oscillation on the output. I had to put in bigger VAS capacitor to slow things down.
The new transistor had a much higher gain than the originals.
And that was with same number 2N3055/MJ2955 so using different transistors could be troublesome.
Click to expand...
Another proof an oscilloscope is a mandatory tool ;)
 
Hi guys! I'm looking for a substitute of 2SA1016K/G driver PNP silicon 150v. this one is missing on the main substitute list. I found that KSA992FBU is very similar except the HFE which for 2sa1016 is= -1mA and for ksa992 has two parameters hf1= -0.1mA and hf2= -1mA. Is this one will be good to substitute the 2sa1016?
Thanks a lot for any answer!!
 
The parameters of the ksa992 look mostly good as a replacement for the 2sa1016. Can you show us the application (schematic)?
 
Yes.Here it is. I got no sound of the left channel and very low distorted on right channel. The Q104 is visual destroyed - half of the round body is missing and the resistor next to it is blown.
Thanks for the answer!! I got the schematic from hf engine.
 

Attachments

ivo said:
Yes.Here it is. I got no sound of the left channel and very low distorted on right channel. The Q104 is visual destroyed - half of the round body is missing and the resistor next to it is blown.
Thanks for the answer!! I got the schematic from hf engine.
Click to expand...

So, something nearby shorted and pumped too much current through the transistor and the resistor. You may want to "lift on leg" of the surrounding components and test them for their values. You may find more bad or failing components than just the obviously-damaged ones.

The 2SA1016 is a complement to the nearby 2SC2362. I'm no E.E., but that worries me. If the 1016 and (one of) the 2362 form a complementary pair, when you substitute a KSA 992 in there, you'll probably want a closely-paired complement in the correct 2362 position. But I'm no expert, just guessing for the schematic.
 
I think @dlucy is right, if one transistor of a complementary pair blows especially in the way you describe, I think you should change them both. Preferably for another substitute complementary pair if the originals are not available.
 
Hyperion said:
I think @dlucy is right, if one transistor of a complementary pair blows especially in the way you describe, I think you should change them both. Preferably for another substitute complementary pair if the originals are not available.
Click to expand...

And you'd want to do the same to BOTH channels...
 
A few details:

The 2SA726 is listed twice:

2SA726 KSA992FBU

The part number is really KSA992 and the hfe code is F or FB.

The KSA992 is a fine replacement so long as you don't expect more than 50 mA Ic. If your application needs more than that, up to 150 mA, then you'd want the KSA1015... and realize it's not _quite_ as low noise as the KSA992.
 
well IC on 2sa1016 is (-)50ma and this is original one... So there are two 2sa1016 driver transistors and im going to change both and the related resistors as well. Also, there are two caps related to it but I have only Vmeter and one msr meter which don't know why i bought it for... because it is doing nothing! How to test this caps?
Thanks to both of you guys!! Thanks a lot!
 
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