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  • Author Author: baldengineer
  • Date Created: 22 Apr 2014 9:57 PM Date Created
  • Views 751 views
  • Likes 0 likes
  • Comments 4 comments
  • mosfet
  • transistors
  • darlington
  • pair
  • bjt
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4 Transistors to put your Parts Kit

baldengineer
baldengineer
22 Apr 2014

image

The other day I was working on a project in the TechShop in Austin.  A recent student of my Arduino Programming class asked me how to make his motor spin.  So I started to talk about needing a transistor and they asked the question "what is the BEST transistor?"  Since "best" is subjective, I thought maybe I would give a list of the "best transistors" to keep in your parts bin, for any occasion.

 

So from baldengineer.com, The best 4 transistors to keep in your parts kit.

 

For the tl;dr, the list is:

  1. BJT, NPN, 2N3904
  2. BJT, PNP, 2N3906
  3. BJT, NPN (Power), TIP120
  4. MOSFET, N-Channel, FQP30N06L
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Top Comments

  • DAB
    DAB over 11 years ago +1
    I would add the venerable 2N2222. Its a staple for quick designs. DAB
  • COMPACT
    COMPACT over 11 years ago in reply to DAB

    DAB, We're showing our vintages!

    How about venerable BC548, BC558, BC327, BC337, BD139, BD140, BD640, TIP32, 2N3055 and 2N7000?

     

    James,

    Be careful with MOSFETS - they can be really easy to blow up!

    Make sure you follow ESD (Electro Static Discharge) procedures.

     

    Very Compact

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  • DAB
    DAB over 11 years ago

    I would add the venerable 2N2222.

    Its a staple for quick designs.

     

    DAB

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  • baldengineer
    baldengineer over 11 years ago in reply to michaelkellett

    Yup.  I mixed up high-side and low-side originally, it is fixed now.

     

    Thanks

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  • michaelkellett
    michaelkellett over 11 years ago

    In your blog reached by the link you incorrectly define high and low side switch.

     

    "NPN Transistors are used in high-side switch circuits. This means whatever you want to control is connected between the high voltage and the collector of the transistor."

     

    Here's  a link to an article with some useful information, including  a correct definition:

     

    "The definition of a high-side load switch is that it is controlled by an external enable signal, and connects or disconnects a power source (battery or adaptor) to a given load. Compared to a low-side load switch, a high-side switch sources current to the load, while the low-side type connects or disconnects the load to ground, and therefore sinks current from the load."

     

    MK

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