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Home > Products > Discrete Semiconductor Products > Transistors > Bipolar (BJT) > Single Bipolar Transistors

Nexperia USA Inc. BCP68F

Name: BCP68F
Brand: Nexperia USA Inc.
SKU: BCP68F
Price: 2.40 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

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Part No.:: BCP68F

Manufacturer:: Nexperia USA Inc.

Category:: Single Bipolar Transistors

Package:: TO-261-4, TO-261AA

Datasheet:: BCP68F.pdf

Description:: TRANS NPN 20V 2A SOT-223

Quantity:: RFQ Add To RFQ list

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Inventory:10,927

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Product details

Overview

BCP68 from Nexperia is an NPN medium power transistor in SOT223 (SC-73) package, rated for 20 V V_CEO, 2 A continuous collector current, and 1.35 W power dissipation with 6 cm² copper pad. It delivers h_FE of 85–375 at I_C = 500 mA and supports linear voltage regulators, MOSFET drivers, and low-side switching in battery-powered industrial control systems.

For engineers reviewing the BCP68 datasheet, BCP68 pinout, BCP68 application, or BCP68 equivalent, this page provides verified electrical parameters, thermal derating curves, junction-to-ambient resistance values under three PCB mounting conditions, and validated alternative transistors with documented gain and saturation voltage differences.

Technical Context

The BCP68 operates as a silicon NPN bipolar junction transistor optimized for medium-power linear and switching applications. Its design emphasizes high DC current gain stability across I_C = 5 mA to 2 A and robust thermal performance on FR4 PCBs with varying collector pad sizes.

It features dual h_FE variants (standard and -25 suffix), pulsed peak collector current capability up to 3 A (t_p ≤ 1 ms), and guaranteed V_CE(sat) ≤ 0.6 V at I_C = 2 A / I_B = 200 mA - enabling efficient low-side drive in power management circuits.

Key Specifications

Parameter	Value and Actual Design Meaning
V_CEO	20 V - Maximum safe collector-emitter voltage with base open; defines upper rail limit in low-voltage switching stages.
I_C (continuous)	2 A - Continuous DC collector current rating; supports sustained load switching in 5–12 V power rails.
h_FE	85–375 at V_CE = 1 V, I_C = 500 mA - High and wide DC current gain range enables stable biasing without external feedback networks.
V_CE(sat)	≤ 0.6 V at I_C = 2 A, I_B = 200 mA - Low saturation voltage minimizes conduction loss and self-heating in high-current switching nodes.
P_tot	1.35 W with 6 cm² collector pad - Highest power dissipation rating among SOT223 NPN transistors in its class, enabling higher ambient temperature operation.
f_T	40–170 MHz - Transition frequency supports audio-frequency amplification and fast-switching (<100 ns) digital interface applications.
R_th(j-a)	93 K/W with 6 cm² pad - Thermal resistance directly determines junction temperature rise above ambient; critical for reliability in sealed enclosures.

Pinout & Package

SOT223 (SC-73) surface-mount plastic package with four leads: two collector pins (1 and 4) share internal connection to maximize heatsinking, base (pin 1) and emitter (pin 3) are single-terminal. The exposed collector tab serves as primary thermal path to PCB copper.

Pin/Terminal	Circuit Role	Design Meaning
1	Base	Control input node; requires ≥200 mA base drive for full 2 A saturation; sensitive to ESD per IEC 61000-4-2 Level 2.
2	Collector	Primary high-current output terminal; electrically tied to pin 4; soldered to large copper area for thermal management.
3	Emiter	Reference/return node for collector current; must be connected to lowest impedance ground plane to minimize switching noise coupling.
4	Collector	Secondary collector terminal; internally bonded to pin 2; used to enhance mechanical stability and thermal transfer on PCB.

Key Features

Feature	Design Value
High I_C capability	2 A continuous rating enables direct driving of small solenoids, relays, and logic-level MOSFET gates without buffer stages.
Dual h_FE options	BCP68 (85–375) and BCP68-25 (160–375) allow precise gain matching in analog feedback loops or consistent turn-on timing across production batches.
Enhanced thermal pad	Exposed collector tab with 6.7 × 3.7 mm footprint supports 1.35 W dissipation - 35% higher than standard SOT223 parts with same board area.
Low V_CE(sat)	0.6 V max at full 2 A load reduces power loss to ≤1.2 W, permitting use in thermally constrained battery-operated devices.
Robust transient rating	3 A peak collector current (t_p ≤ 1 ms) accommodates motor startup surges and capacitor charging spikes without secondary breakdown.

Applications

Linear Voltage Regulators

MOSFET Drivers

Use Scenario: Pass transistor in adjustable 3–12 V linear regulators powering microcontrollers and sensors.

IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: NPN pass element controlling output voltage via base bias; operates in active region with continuous conduction.

Use Value: 85–375 h_FE ensures stable loop gain across load currents up to 2 A while maintaining <1.5 °C/W thermal resistance on 6 cm² copper.

Use Scenario: Gate driver stage for N-channel power MOSFETs in DC-DC converters and motor H-bridges.

IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Low-side switch providing fast turn-on (t_on < 50 ns) and controlled gate discharge through emitter follower configuration.

Use Value: V_CE(sat) ≤ 0.6 V at 2 A limits driver-stage loss to <1.2 W, enabling compact layout without forced air cooling.

Low-Side Switches

Battery-Driven Devices

Use Scenario: Load switch for LED strings, fans, or peripheral modules in portable instrumentation.

IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Saturated switch connecting load to ground; driven by MCU GPIO with 200 mA base current.

Use Value: Dual collector pins (pins 2 & 4) reduce bond-wire resistance, lowering effective R_DS(on)-equivalent and improving current sharing reliability.

Use Scenario: Power path control in handheld medical monitors and wireless sensor nodes operating from Li-ion or alkaline cells.

IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Reverse-polarity protection and enable switch; biased in cutoff during shutdown to achieve <100 nA leakage.

Use Value: V_EB0 = 5 V and I_EBO ≤ 100 nA ensure safe operation with 3.3 V or 5 V logic control even under battery reverse-connection fault conditions.

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Alternative Part	Technical Difference	Application Difference	Selection Advice
ZTX653	Higher V_CEO = 60 V but lower I_C = 1 A and P_tot = 1 W; h_FE = 100–800 at I_C = 500 mA.	Better for 24–48 V industrial controls; unsuitable for >1 A continuous loads due to thermal limitation.	Select when higher breakdown voltage is required and load current stays below 1 A.
BCP56-16	Same SOT223 package; V_CEO = 80 V, I_C = 1 A, h_FE = 100–250; P_tot = 1.5 W with 6 cm² pad.	Superior voltage margin for automotive 12 V systems; lower current gain spread reduces calibration effort in precision analog designs.	Choose for 12 V battery systems needing >60 V transient immunity and tighter h_FE tolerance.

Compared with ZTX653 and BCP56-16, BCP68 offers optimal balance of 2 A current handling, 20 V rating, and 1.35 W thermal capacity in SOT223 - making it preferred for cost-sensitive 5–12 V power management where both current and thermal headroom are critical.

Availability

BCP68 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for linear voltage regulators, MOSFET drivers, and low-side switches requiring stable component supply in industrial automation, test equipment, and portable electronics.

Supply support for BCP68 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 specializing in high-volume, high-reliability discrete and logic devices, with manufacturing sites in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

The BCP68 belongs to Nexperia's medium-power bipolar transistor product line, engineered for robust performance in power conversion, load switching, and analog signal conditioning within space-constrained SMT designs.

FAQ

What is the maximum allowable junction temperature for BCP68?

The absolute maximum junction temperature (T_j) is 150 °C per IEC 60134 limiting values. Operation above this threshold risks permanent degradation of h_FE and increased leakage. Derating is required above 25 °C ambient - e.g., at 75 °C ambient, maximum usable power drops to ~0.8 W with 6 cm² pad (R_th(j-a) = 93 K/W).

Can BCP68 replace BC817 in SOT23 footprint designs?

No - BCP68 uses SOT223 (SC-73), which has larger dimensions (6.7 × 3.7 mm vs. 2.9 × 1.3 mm) and four terminals versus BC817's three-pin SOT23. Mechanical and thermal interfaces are incompatible; no drop-in replacement exists without PCB redesign and thermal validation.

Does BCP68 have automotive qualification?

No - per Revision History section 13, BCP68 was explicitly changed to non-automotive qualification in Rev. 9 (2023). For automotive applications, Nexperia recommends the -Q qualified variants such as BCP68-Q, which undergo AEC-Q101 stress testing and include extended temperature screening.

How does the dual-collector configuration affect PCB layout?

Pins 2 and 4 are internally shorted collectors, so both must be soldered to the same large copper pour. This doubles thermal conduction area and reduces effective thermal resistance by ~15% compared to single-collector SOT223 parts - but requires symmetric stencil aperture design and adequate solder mask clearance to prevent bridging during reflow.

BCP68F Specifications

Product attributes: Attribute value

Manufacturer:: Nexperia USA Inc.

Series:: -

Package/Case:: TO-261-4, TO-261AA

Packaging:: Tape & Reel (TR)

Product Status:: Active

Transistor Type:: NPN

Current - Collector (Ic) (Max):: 2 A

Voltage - Collector Emitter Breakdown (Max):: 20 V

Vce Saturation (Max) @ Ib, Ic:: 600mV @ 200mA, 2A

Current - Collector Cutoff (Max):: 100nA (ICBO)

DC Current Gain (hFE) (Min) @ Ic, Vce:: 85 @ 500mA, 1V

Power - Max:: 650 mW

Frequency - Transition:: 170MHz

Operating Temperature:: 150°C (TJ)

Grade:: Automotive

Qualification:: AEC-Q101

Mounting Type:: Surface Mount

Supplier Device Package:: SOT-223

BCP68F FAQ

1.How can I place an order for BCP68F through Aetrix?

Please submit a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for BCP68F on Aetrix. Our sales agent will provide a competitive quotation and guide you through the order confirmation once you accept the terms.

2.Are the price and stock information for BCP68F reliable?

The price and inventory of BCP68F are updated periodically and may fluctuate due to market conditions. Stock and pricing data are typically refreshed every 24 hours. Quotation validity for BCP68F is usually 5 days.

3.What payment methods are accepted for BCP68F?

We accept Wire Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card, Western Union, MoneyGram, and Escrow for BCP68F transactions.

Note: Certain payment methods may incur a processing fee.

4.How is shipping managed for BCP68F?

BCP68F orders can be shipped via leading logistics carriers, including DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT, or Registered Mail.

Once your BCP68F order is processed, you will receive an email with the shipment details and tracking number.

Note: Tracking information may take up to 24 hours to appear. Express delivery typically takes 3–5 business days.

5.How can I obtain technical support or documentation for BCP68F?

For technical support, including BCP68F datasheets, pinout diagrams, or application guidance, please contact our engineering support team. They can provide detailed documentation and assistance for your BCP68F requirements.

6.How does Aetrix verify that BCP68F is sourced from the original manufacturer or authorized distributors?

All BCP68F products on Aetrix are procured from qualified distributors and authorized channels. Our dedicated quality assurance team conducts strict verification, including traceability checks and, if necessary, third-party testing. This ensures that BCP68F meets industry standards.

7.What is the process for return or replacement of BCP68F?

All BCP68F units undergo pre-shipment inspection (PSI). If there is an issue with BCP68F, returns or replacements are accepted under the following conditions:

1.Quantity discrepancies, incorrect items, or visible external defects (such as breakage or corrosion), acknowledged by Aetrix.

2.The issue is reported within 90 days of delivery.

3.The BCP68F part is unused and in its original packaging.

Return procedure for BCP68F:

1.Submit a request within 90 days.

2.Obtain a Return Material Authorization (RMA) from Aetrix.

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