Nexperia USA Inc. BCP53,115

Overview

BCP53,115 from Nexperia is a PNP medium-power bipolar junction transistor in SOT223 (SC-73) package, rated for −80 V V_CEO, −1 A continuous collector current, and 1.35 W power dissipation with optimized thermal pad layout. It delivers h_FE = 63–250 at I_C = −150 mA and is engineered for high-side switching in linear voltage regulators and MOSFET driver stages.

For engineers reviewing the BCP53,115 datasheet, BCP53,115 pinout, BCP53,115 application, or BCP53,115 equivalent, this device is selected for stable DC gain across temperature, low V_CE(sat) at moderate load currents, and robust thermal performance on FR4 PCBs with extended collector pad area.

Technical Context

The BCP53,115 operates as a single PNP silicon transistor with base-controlled current amplification. Its design emphasizes high DC current gain consistency across I_C = −5 mA to −500 mA and stable V_BE ≈ −1.0 V at I_C = −500 mA, enabling predictable biasing in analog and power-switching topologies.

Thermal behavior is defined by three R_th(j-a) values (192 K/W to 93 K/W), directly tied to PCB copper area under the collector tab - confirming its role as a thermally aware discrete component requiring layout-aware derating per Figure 1.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

SOT223 (SC-73) surface-mount plastic package with 4 leads, 2.3 mm pitch, and integrated thermal pad on lead 2 and 4 (collector). Body dimensions: 6.5 mm × 3.5 mm × 1.65 mm. Collector leads are internally bonded to maximize heat transfer to PCB.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar PNP medium-power transistor applications.

Compared with BCP52,115 and ZTX753, the BCP53,115 uniquely balances −80 V rating, dual-collector thermal design, and production-grade h_FE binning - making it optimal for industrial power management where layout-driven thermal control and voltage margin are jointly critical.

Availability

BCP53,115 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for linear voltage regulators, high-side switches, and MOSFET driver circuits requiring stable component supply, long-term manufacturability, and RoHS-compliant SMT assembly.

Supply support for BCP53,115 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 focused on high-volume, high-reliability discrete and logic devices, serving automotive, industrial, and consumer markets with ISO/TS 16949-certified manufacturing.

The BCP53 series belongs to Nexperia's medium-power bipolar transistor product line, designed specifically for thermally demanding SMT power control applications where gain consistency and package-level thermal optimization are primary selection criteria.

FAQ

What is the maximum allowable base current for continuous operation?

The absolute maximum DC base current is −0.3 A, but continuous operation should be limited to ≤−50 mA to maintain safe junction temperature with standard PCB layouts. At I_B = −50 mA and I_C = −500 mA, V_CE(sat) remains ≤−0.5 V, ensuring efficient switching without thermal runaway.

Can BCP53,115 replace TO-126 PNP transistors in existing designs?

Yes - the SOT223 package provides comparable thermal performance to TO-126 when mounted on ≥1 cm² copper, and pin-compatible footprints exist. However, the dual-collector configuration (pins 2 and 4) requires routing both to the same net and thermal pad, differing from single-pin TO-126 collector connections.

How does h_FE vary with temperature and collector current?

h_FE decreases at high temperature (e.g., drops ~20 % at T_j = 100 °C vs. 25 °C) and declines at high I_C (>−500 mA); Figure 5 shows typical h_FE = 40 at I_C = −500 mA, Tamb = 25 °C. Designers must verify gain at worst-case operating points, not just room-temperature typicals.

Is BCP53,115 qualified for automotive applications?

No - the datasheet explicitly states this is a non-automotive qualified product (Rev. 11 revision history). It lacks AEC-Q101 qualification, automotive-grade screening, and guaranteed operation across −40 °C to +125 °C. For automotive use, Nexperia offers Q-qualified variants such as BCP53-16Q.