NXP Semiconductors BC337,116

Overview

BC337,116 from Nexperia is an NPN general-purpose bipolar junction transistor (BJT) in SOT54A (TO-92 wide-pitch) through-hole package, rated for 45 V V_CEO, 500 mA continuous collector current, and 625 mW power dissipation at T_amb ≤ 25 °C. It serves as a low-voltage, medium-current switch or linear amplifier in discrete power control stages of industrial power supplies and embedded sensor interfaces.

For engineers reviewing the BC337,116 datasheet, BC337,116 pinout, BC337,116 application, or BC337,116 equivalent, key selection considerations include its 45 V breakdown rating, 500 mA DC current capability, SOT54A lead spacing (5.08 mm), h_FE range of 100–250 (for -16 variant), and thermal resistance of 200 K/W - all critical for thermal-aware PCB layout and drive-stage reliability validation.

Technical Context

The BC337,116 operates as a silicon NPN BJT with base-emitter forward voltage ~0.7–1.2 V at I_C = 500 mA, collector-emitter saturation voltage ≤ 700 mV at I_C = 500 mA / I_B = 50 mA, and transition frequency f_T ≥ 100 MHz. Its DC current gain h_FE is specified across three variants (-16, -25, -40); BC337,116 corresponds to the -16 grade (h_FE = 100–250).

Designed for through-hole mounting on FR4 PCBs with single-sided copper, it supports pulse operation up to 1 A peak collector current (t_p ≤ 300 μs, duty δ ≤ 0.02) and withstands storage temperatures from −65 °C to +150 °C. Junction temperature is limited to 150 °C, and emitter-base voltage is rated to 5 V.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

SOT54A (SC-43A wide-pitch TO-92) is a plastic single-ended leaded through-hole package with 3 leads, 5.08 mm lead pitch, and standard delta pinning (emitter-base-collector). It supports manual soldering and wave soldering on double-sided or single-sided FR4 PCBs.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar NPN general-purpose transistor applications.

Compared with BC337,116, BC337-16,115 offers identical performance in a narrower-pitch through-hole package requiring footprint modification, while BC817-16,215 provides SMT compatibility at the cost of reduced thermal capability - making BC337,116 optimal for robust, medium-power through-hole switching where thermal margin and mechanical reliability are prioritized.

Availability

BC337,116 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial power sequencing, automotive body control modules, and consumer appliance motor control requiring stable component supply, long-term manufacturability, and through-hole assembly compatibility.

Supply support for BC337,116 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Nexperia is a global leader in high-volume production of discrete semiconductors, acquired from NXP's Standard Products division in 2017, with core expertise in BJTs, MOSFETs, ESD protection, and logic devices.

The BC337,116 belongs to Nexperia's legacy general-purpose BJT family designed for cost-effective, reliable switching and amplification in automotive, industrial, and consumer applications where proven performance and long-lifecycle support are essential.

FAQ

What is the package type and lead pitch of BC337,116?

The BC337,116 uses the SOT54A (SC-43A wide-pitch TO-92) package with a 5.08 mm lead pitch. This distinguishes it from the standard SOT54 variant (2.54 mm pitch) and ensures mechanical compatibility with wave-solder fixtures designed for wider lead spacing. The BC337,116 pinout is emitter-base-collector (pins 1–2–3).

What h_FE range does BC337,116 specify, and how is it tested?

The BC337,116 is the -16 grade variant, specifying h_FE = 100–250 measured at I_C = 100 mA and V_CE = 1 V. This gain range is guaranteed across the operating temperature range and forms the basis for base resistor calculation in saturated switching circuits using the BC337,116.

Can BC337,116 replace BC337-16 in existing designs?

Yes, BC337,116 is functionally identical to BC337-16 in electrical specifications and marking (C33716), differing only in packaging format (SOT54A vs. SOT54). Replacement requires verifying PCB footprint compatibility - BC337,116 needs the wider 5.08 mm lead pitch land pattern, not the standard 2.54 mm pattern used for BC337-16.

What is the maximum power dissipation of BC337,116 at room temperature?

The BC337,116 has a total power dissipation (P_tot) rating of 625 mW at ambient temperature ≤ 25 °C when mounted on an FR4 PCB with single-sided copper. Derating is required above 25 °C per the thermal resistance R_th(j-a) = 200 K/W, meaning power must be reduced by 6.25 mW/°C above that threshold.

Is BC337,116 suitable for linear amplification applications?

Yes, the BC337,116 supports linear-mode operation with f_T ≥ 100 MHz and stable h_FE characteristics. Its V_BE ≈ 0.7–1.2 V and low output capacitance (C_c ≤ 3 pF) make it appropriate for low-noise, medium-bandwidth preamplifier stages - provided biasing keeps V_CE > 1 V and power dissipation within 625 mW limits.