So your "on the brink" date code plus appalling measurements strongly hint as fakes to be avoided.Ī user was so sick about fake transistors he created this "swim or drown" tester, go figure.Īnd he was *happy* at blowing half his power transistor stash. Polida is a semiconductor supplier FAMOUS for selling fakes (just search DIY Audio for complaints), yet they have 99.3% positive EBay rating and over 166000 sales IF I were a semiconductor faker, using a data code >1999 would instantly discredit them (that said, now and then you find "Motorola" labelled ones with codes such as 2004, 2006, etc.) so no matter when made (faked cough cough) I would apply a 1999 code.
Not impossible but statistically unlikely you bought "just" the very last transistors rolling out from that production line and still labelled "Motorola" ON Semiconductor replaced Motorola in 1999. Keep em? Toss em? You think that might be fakes? I have 5 transistors in Batch 2 that measure under 20. Would you be concerned with that?īy the way. But when I see the differences between the Motorola and the ON, I take it you would not mix brands - even though they are MJ15003s. I know you have all recommended to use transistors of the same kind. Since I need 4 transistors, I guess I will use the ones from Batch 1.īut I am surprised to see such a wide range of readings - especially in Batch 2.Īnyway. A few of these have hfe 12 and others are at 30 and one in the group is 66. This bunch of transistors has hfe from 65 to 84.īatch 2 of MJ15003 ( Motorola) has the number 9917.
How to destructively test 2n3055 transistor pro#
The Spec Sheet from ON Semiconductor MJ15003 shows the gain (hfe) at 25 minimum and 150 maximum.įor my testing, I am using the Atlas DCA Pro Semiconductor Analyzer.īatch 1 of MJ15003G ( On Semiconductor) shows a number below that as BM1244. I must have bought them at different times and from different vendors. In my collection of transistors, I have two batches of MJ15003. I take it this transistor is a spin off of the 2N3055. I'll be working on a project soon (rebuilding an Acoustic Control 150 Guitar Head) and planning to replace four RCA 4815 NPN Output Transistors.