Description

BC548 – NPN Transistor

The BC548 is a general-purpose NPN bipolar junction transistor commonly used in electronic equipment. It is notably often the first type of bipolar transistor hobbyists encounter and is often featured in designs in hobby electronics magazines where a general-purpose transistor is required.The BC548 is low in cost.and widely available( Click for wide range of Transistors).

BC548 is an NPN transistor so the collector and emitter will be left open (Reverse biased) when the base pin is held at ground and will be closed (Forward biased) when a signal is provided to base pin. BC548 has a gain value of 110 to 800, this value determines the amplification capacity of the transistor. The maximum amount of current that could flow through the Collector pin is 500mA, hence we cannot connect loads that consume more than 500mA using this transistor. To bias a transistor we have to supply current to base pin, this current (I_B) should be limited to 5mA.

When this transistor is fully biased, it can allow a maximum of 500mA to flow across the collector and emitter. This stage is called Saturation Region and the typical voltage allowed across the Collector-Emitter (V­_CE) or Base-Emitter (V_BE) could be 200 and 900 mV respectively. When base current is removed the transistor becomes fully off, this stage is called the Cut-off Region and the Base Emitter voltage could be around 660 mV.

BC548 Pin Configuration

BC548 as Switch

When a transistor is used as a switch it is operated in the Saturation and Cut-Off Region as explained above. As discussed a transistor will act as an Open switch during Forward Bias and as a closed switch during Reverse Bias, this biasing can be achieved by supplying the required amount of current to the base pin. As mentioned the biasing current should be maximum of 5mA. Anything more than 5mA will kill the Transistor; hence a resistor is always added in series with a base pin to limit the current. The value of this resistor (R_B) can be calculated using the below formula.

R_B = V_BE / I_B

Where, the value of V_BE should be 5V for BC548 and the Base current (I_B depends on the Collector current (I_C). The value of I_B should not exceed 5mA.

BC547 as Amplifier

A Transistors act as an Amplifier when operating in Active Region. It can amplify power, voltage, and current at different configurations.

Some of the configurations used in amplifier circuits are

1. Common emitter amplifier
2. Common collector amplifier
3. Common base amplifier

Of the above types, common emitter type is the popular and mostly used configuration. When used as an Amplifier the DC current gain of the Transistor can be calculated by using the below formulae

DC Current Gain = Collector Current (I_C) / Base Current (I_B)

BC548 Transistor Features

• Bi-Polar NPN Transistor
• DC Current Gain (hFE) is 800 maximum
• Continuous Collector current (IC) is 500mA
• Emitter Base Voltage (VBE) is 5V
• Base Current(IB) is 5mA maximum
• Available in To-92 Package

Applications

• Driver Modules like Relay Driver, LED driver etc..
• Amplifier modules like Audio amplifiers, signal Amplifier etc..
• Darlington pair

Package Includes :

1 x BC548 Transistor NPN 30V 0.1A (Pack of 5)