BC517,116

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The BC517 and 116 are a range of low-cost general-purpose transistors which can be used in a variety of applications. This article describes their characteristics, applications, and working principles.

BC517 & BC116: Overview

The BC517 series of transistors belong to the medium-power group of general-purpose transistors, while the BC116 series belongs to the low-power group. Both series are readily available in most popular standard packages and are monolithic silicon structures, which can be employed in various audio amplifier, signal processor and signal generator circuits.

These transistors feature an excellent gain precision and high output power, while their power dissipation capability is also higher than many other identical series transistors. The BC517 and BC116 transistors also offer a low noise operation and good reliability throughout a wide operating temperature range.

BC517 & BC116: Characteristics

The BC517 and BC116 transistor range features a wide range of current gain, also called beta (hFE), which makes them suitable for use in amplifier and audio applications. The typical current gain (hFE) of the BC517 device is between 40 and 450, while the BC116 device has a typical current gain between 80 and 1000.

The maximum operating voltage (Vce) of the BC517 transistor is 40V and is 50V for the BC116 transistor, while their respective maximum collector-emitter saturation voltage (Vce (sat)) are 0.20V and 0.30V. It needs to be noted that the BC517 and BC116 transistors have a high collector-emitter saturation voltage (Vce (sat)) at low base currents.

BC517 & BC116: Applications

The low cost and reliable BC517 and BC116 transistors are used in various audio amplifier, signal processor and signal generator circuits. They are also extensively used as discrete linear power amplifiers in audio applications, such as car radios.

In addition, they can be used in low-power applications such as Class B audio amplifiers and small amplifiers with only couple of transistors. These transistors are also used in amplifiers which require a high voltage or current gain. Moreover, they are excellent switch and tone control components.

BC517 & BC116: Working Principle

The working principle of the BC517 and BC116 transistors is based on limiting or varying the flow of current through a semiconductor material, when the base of the device is activated by a voltage.

A bipolar transistor is a three-terminal device, meaning it has three distinct parts: collector (C), base (B), and emitter (E). The base-emitter terminal is the voltage control of the transistor. When activating the base terminal of the device, with a small voltage between 0.3V to 0.9V, the transistor is able to control a large current flow through the collector and emitter terminals, depending on the current gain of the transistor.

The current gain of the transistor defines the amount of current, which is passing through the collector terminal, for every unit (1) of current passing through the base terminal. When the BC517 and BC116 transistors are used, current gain is determined by input voltage applied to the base control terminal.

Finally, the transistor construction ensures that the collector always has a greater number of holes than the emitter, which allows the collector current to be controlled by the base current.

In conclusion, the BC517 and BC116 transistors offer great flexibility, low cost, and reliabilty in various audio, amplifier, signal processor and linear amplifiers. They are low-power devices, featuring an excellent gain precision, high output power and low noise operation in a wide operating temperature range.

They work on the principle of varying or limiting the current flow through the collector and emitter terminals, when the base of the device is activated.

Overall, these transistors are highly popular for a wide range of applications.

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