transistor substitution manuals OVER THE WALL? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: hannobisschoff
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2011, 10:07:54 am
content: I recently bought a Towers International Transistor Selector. So I just wondered, was this a stupid idea to buy this book (a bit late hey?), or am I going to use it regularly. Please let me know if this purchase was a mistake, or if this is one thing in electronics that hasn't been replaced by the internet.

author: dimlow
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2011, 05:05:23 pm
content: i have never used a transistoris that unusual ?

author: bilko
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2011, 07:09:52 pm
content: Quote from: hannobisschoff on June 11, 2011, 10:07:54 amA useful reference especially for the older stuff, not a waste of money, however google is good at finding specs too.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2011, 07:42:41 pm
content: I own the VRT ECA1 & ECA2 series of books, yes it is more handy having the book next to you on the bench.I would use the Internet for an IC , but not as regularly as I use my books.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2011, 08:15:46 pm
content: Quote from: dimlow on June 11, 2011, 05:05:23 pmYes, what are all your projects purely MCU based with no high power stuff?

author: tekfan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2011, 08:16:56 pm
content: Substitution books are priceless for older stuff especially if the company used some weird name for the transistor.Even more useful when trying to find a germanium transistor equivalent.

author: dimlow
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2011, 08:47:42 pm
content: Quote from: tekfan on June 11, 2011, 08:16:56 pmBasically, Yes, used some fets but not discrete transistors.

author: hannobisschoff
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2011, 11:49:12 pm
content: Quote from: dimlow on June 11, 2011, 05:05:23 pmWhat!!! Yes, that's very unusual...

author: hannobisschoff
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2011, 11:52:20 pm
content: Quote from: tekfan on June 11, 2011, 08:16:56 pmWhat makes a germanium transistor good? What I'm trying to ask, is what makes a germanium transistor better than a Si transistor. Are they better for a certain job?

author: tekfan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2011, 12:47:45 am
content: Quote from: hannobisschoff on June 11, 2011, 11:52:20 pmApart from a lower voltage drop not much else. The thing is that you can't just put in a Si transistor in a 60 year old device that uses Ge's and expect it to work.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2011, 08:27:06 am
content: Quote from: dimlow on June 11, 2011, 08:47:42 pmFETs are transistors by definition and I assume you're talking about MOSFETs not JugFETs?

author: dimlow
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2011, 08:45:45 am
content: Well yea! Most intelligent people would have picked up on that. I didn't need to spell it out.

author: hannobisschoff
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2011, 02:47:58 pm
content: Quote from: tekfan on June 12, 2011, 12:47:45 amOH, I see.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2011, 04:20:47 am
content: Quote from: hannobisschoff on June 11, 2011, 10:07:54 amEquivalents books can be useful,but some of them quote equivalents which are more obscurethan the original one.In many cases,you can find a replacement by the use of a little circuit analysis.Ask yourself these questions:-(1) What does the device do?(Is it a critical circuit,or just some thing like a relay driver or LED driver?).(2) What device does another Manufacturer use in a similar circuit?Many simple circuits use things like 2n2222s & BC108s in very similar service,so in many cases,these may be regarded as equivalents,although the Equivalents Book may not list them as such.Back when I was fixing a lot of Sony Profeel 68cm picture monitors,we used to use BD651Atransistors in place of 2SC1413s.After looking at the equivalent section of the Philips TV,we had a pretty good idea that it would work,so we tried them with no problem.VK6ZGO