MOTM

Not quite on topic, but the whole box cap discussion reminded me
of this:
Why is it that some transistors are painted?  Why would, say, a 2N3904
have red & yellow stripes on it?
& every now & then there'll ba an "F" before the transistor # on the part.
Does this mean anything?

Idly curious
tomr

It means the hfe (DC beta, or current gain) has been "binned", ie tested in
placed in
groups of a range of betas, OR as a min. beta.

Paul S.

-----Original Message-----
From: hodad1@... <hodad1@...>
To: motm@onelist.com <motm@onelist.com>
Date: Thursday, November 11, 1999 11:12 AM

Subject: [motm] XISTOR Q


>From: hodad1@...
>
>
>Not quite on topic, but the whole box cap discussion reminded me
>of this:
>Why is it that some transistors are painted?  Why would, say, a 2N3904
>have red & yellow stripes on it?
>& every now & then there'll ba an "F" before the transistor # on the part.
>Does this mean anything?
>
>Idly curious
>tomr
>
>>

Which reply should I interject? "Ahh, I thought so" or, "*That* clears
things up"?  <bg>

It's all over my head. That's why I leave this stuff to the professionals.
"Don't try this at home."

(Oops, I _am_ trying this at home...)


-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Schreiber

It means the hfe (DC beta, or current gain) has been "binned", ie tested
in placed in groups of a range of betas, OR as a min. beta.

I *highly* recommend the book:

Intutive IC Electronics - by Thomas Frederickson

which has wonderful explanations on semiconductors and how they work. Almost
*ZERO* math. Very easy to understand. I referred to it constantly in grad
school.

Paul S.

-----Original Message-----
From: Tkacs, Ken <Ken.Tkacs@...>
To: 'motm@onelist.com' <motm@onelist.com>
Date: Thursday, November 11, 1999 12:33 PM

Subject: RE: [motm] XISTOR Q


>From: "Tkacs, Ken" <Ken.Tkacs@...>
>
>
>Which reply should I interject? "Ahh, I thought so" or, "*That* clears
>things up"?  <bg>
>
>It's all over my head. That's why I leave this stuff to the professionals.
>"Don't try this at home."
>
>(Oops, I _am_ trying this at home...)
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Paul Schreiber
>
>It means the hfe (DC beta, or current gain) has been "binned", ie tested
>in placed in groups of a range of betas, OR as a min. beta.
>
>>