NXP Semiconductors BC517,116

Overview

BC517,116 from Nexperia (formerly Philips Semiconductors) is an NPN Darlington transistor in TO-92 (SOT54) package, rated for 30 V V_CE, 500 mA I_C, and minimum DC current gain of 30,000 at 20 mA collector current. It delivers high-current switching and ultra-high amplification in low-voltage sensor interface and relay driver circuits.

For engineers reviewing the BC517,116 datasheet, BC517,116 pinout, BC517,116 application, or BC517,116 equivalent, key selection criteria include its Darlington architecture enabling single-stage high-gain switching, saturation voltage under 1 V at 100 mA, and thermal resistance of 200 K/W on FR4 PCB - critical for thermally constrained discrete logic-level drive designs.

Technical Context

The BC517,116 integrates two cascaded NPN transistors in a monolithic Darlington configuration, delivering compound current gain without external biasing components. Its base-emitter on-state voltage is 1.4 V at 10 mA, and it achieves transition frequency of 220 MHz at 30 mA, supporting moderate-speed switching up to ~100 kHz in saturated operation.

Designed for direct replacement of legacy BC517 variants, BC517,116 maintains identical limiting values (V_CEO = 30 V, I_C = 500 mA, P_tot = 625 mW), pinout, and thermal characteristics per IEC 60134 Absolute Maximum Rating System, with cut-off currents below 100 nA at rated voltages.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

BC517,116 is housed in a plastic single-ended leaded (through-hole) TO-92 package, also designated SOT54 or SC-43A, with 3 leads and standard 2.54 mm lead pitch. The package measures 4.8 mm × 4.2 mm × 14.5 mm (L × W × H) and is optimized for manual assembly and wave soldering.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar NPN Darlington transistor applications.

Compared with BC517,132, BC517,116 offers identical performance in bulk-packaged form ideal for prototyping and low-volume production; versus ULN2003A, BC517,116 provides lower cost and smaller footprint per channel but lacks integrated clamping and multi-channel integration.

Availability

BC517,116 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for relay driver circuits, sensor signal amplification, LED current control, and low-voltage logic-level translation requiring stable component supply and long-term obsolescence management.

Supply support for BC517,116 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 semiconductor expert in discrete, logic, and MOSFET devices, spun off from Philips Semiconductors in 2017 and headquartered in Nijmegen, Netherlands.

The BC517,116 belongs to Nexperia's legacy bipolar transistor portfolio, designed specifically for high-gain, low-voltage switching in industrial control, automotive body electronics, and consumer appliance applications.

FAQ

What is the maximum collector-emitter voltage rating for BC517,116?

The BC517,116 has a maximum collector-emitter voltage (V_CEO) rating of 30 V under open-base conditions. This value is confirmed in the Limiting Values table of the official Nexperia datasheet and defines the upper limit for safe operation in common-emitter switching configurations without risk of avalanche breakdown.

Does BC517,116 require an external base resistor when driven by a microcontroller GPIO?

BC517,116 can operate without an external base resistor when driven by typical 3.3 V or 5 V microcontroller GPIOs delivering ≥100 µA, thanks to its minimum h_FE of 30,000. However, a series base resistor (e.g., 10 kΩ) is recommended to limit base current during transient overvoltage and ensure reliable saturation across temperature and unit variation.

Is BC517,116 pin-compatible with BC547 or BC548 general-purpose transistors?

No, BC517,116 is not pin-compatible with BC547 or BC548. While all three use TO-92 packages, BC517,116 has emitter-base-collector (E-B-C) pinout (pin 1 = emitter), whereas BC547/BC548 use emitter-collector-base (E-C-B). Swapping them will cause immediate circuit failure due to reversed polarity and excessive current flow.

What is the thermal resistance junction-to-ambient for BC517,116 on a standard FR4 PCB?

The thermal resistance junction-to-ambient (R_th(j-a)) for BC517,116 is 200 K/W when mounted on a standard FR4 printed-circuit board with minimal copper area, as specified in the Thermal Characteristics section of the Nexperia datasheet. This value assumes no heatsink and defines the power derating curve above 25 °C ambient temperature.

Can BC517,116 be used in linear amplifier applications, or is it limited to switching?

BC517,116 supports both switching and linear amplifier applications. Its f_T of 220 MHz and well-characterized h_FE curve (Fig.2) confirm usability in Class-A audio preamplifiers or sensor signal conditioning. However, linear operation must respect P_tot = 625 mW and maintain V_CE < 30 V to avoid thermal runaway or secondary breakdown.