Sub for 2N3906 with 60V capability

I need to find a sub for the 2N3906 with 60V capability. Im using it for switching. 3906 is rated to 40V and Im working around 56 Volts.

Thanks

Helsing

How brave are you?

Who get hurt if it fails?

MOST "40V" parts will stand a lot more. I've repaired 60V amps with 40V parts and they survived classroom duty for many years.

And the 40V is generally measured with the Base open. Vcer and Vces (Base to Emitter resistor or short) is more typical of real circuits and is often substantially higher than Vceo. In some hard-switched chores, Vces is perfectly appropriate.

Get a bag of 3906 and a 60V supply. Collector to high voltage, 10K resistor from base to emitter, 10K resistor from emitter to ground. Measure the voltage on the emitter. If it is up around 15V, you have a 45V part. If it is much less than 1V, you have a 60V part.

Transistors today are so uniform, that if you don't get a 60V part in the first 5 or 6 parts from one reel, you probably won't find one, get some 3906s from another source.

To be very sure, once you find a "60V 2N3906", let it cook at 60V or 70V for a day, hold a soldering iron on it for 5 seconds, see if you get any significant change in hold-off voltage.

I would use the MPSA56.

Concur with PRR, especially for DIY. For production and when anything that can go wrong will, Tamas is spot on.

Thanks guys.

Im going to try the MPSA56

Helsing