Nexperia USA Inc. BCW61C,235

Overview

BCW61C,235 from Nexperia is a PNP general-purpose bipolar junction transistor in SOT23 package, rated for −32 V V_CEO, −100 mA I_C, and DC current gain (h_FE) of 250–460 at I_C = −2 mA. It serves as a low-power switching or linear amplification device in signal conditioning and interface circuits, commonly used in portable consumer electronics power management.

For engineers reviewing the BCW61C,235 datasheet, BCW61C,235 pinout, BCW61C,235 application, or BCW61C,235 equivalent, key selection criteria include its PNP polarity, SOT23 thermal resistance (500 K/W), V_CEsat ≤ −250 mV at −10 mA/−0.25 mA, noise figure ≤ 6 dB, and complementarity with NPN BCW60 series.

Technical Context

This transistor operates in active, saturation, and cutoff regions with defined DC gain bands across collector current (10 μA to 50 mA) and V_CE bias (−1 V to −5 V). Its f_T of 100 MHz supports audio-frequency amplification and low-speed digital switching up to ~10 MHz.

Thermal performance is specified for FR4 PCB mounting (R_{th j-a} = 500 K/W), and capacitance values (C_c = 4.5 pF, C_e = 11 pF) indicate suitability for stable operation below 100 MHz without parasitic resonance concerns.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

SOT23 plastic surface-mounted package (TO-236AB), 3-lead, dimensions per JEDEC MO-203AA: body size 2.9 × 1.3 × 1.0 mm, lead pitch 1.9 mm, thermal pad not present.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with BCW61B,235, BCW61C,235 offers tighter h_FE control for predictable base drive; versus BC856B,215, it trades slightly lower speed and saturation voltage for legacy design continuity and qualification history in industrial applications.

Availability

BCW61C,235 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for portable audio amplifiers, microcontroller GPIO interfaces, LED driver circuits, and power supply enable control requiring stable component supply across production lifecycles.

Supply support for BCW61C,235 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 discrete semiconductors, formed in 2017 from the former NXP Standard Products division, specializing in automotive, industrial, computing, and consumer-grade components.

The BCW61 series belongs to Nexperia's general-purpose bipolar transistor product line, designed specifically for cost-sensitive, low-power switching and amplification tasks in space-constrained applications.

FAQ

Is BCW61C,235 RoHS compliant and halogen-free?

Yes. BCW61C,235 meets RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU and is halogen-free per Nexperia standard specifications. The SOT23 package uses lead-free solderable terminations and complies with JEDEC J-STD-020 moisture sensitivity level 1 (MSL1) for unlimited floor life at ≤30 °C/85% RH.

What is the maximum operating junction temperature for BCW61C,235?

The absolute maximum junction temperature (T_j) is +150 °C, as specified in the Limiting Values table. Operation above this temperature risks permanent degradation. Derating begins at T_amb > 25 °C per the R_{th j-a} = 500 K/W thermal resistance on FR4 PCB.

Can BCW61C,235 be used in place of BCW61D,235?

No - BCW61D has higher h_FE (380–630) and different gain binning. Substituting BCW61C may cause insufficient base drive in circuits relying on BCW61D's minimum gain, especially at I_C = −50 mA where BCW61C's h_FE drops to ≥100 versus BCW61D's ≥110.

Does BCW61C,235 have a built-in ESD protection diode?

No. BCW61C,235 is an unclamped bipolar transistor without integrated ESD protection. External protection (e.g., series resistor + TVS) is required if handling or circuit conditions expose base-emitter or base-collector junctions to >±2 kV HBM events.