2N2222

The 2N2222 is a common NPN bipolar junction transistor (BJT) used for general purpose low-power amplifying or switching applications. It is designed for low to medium current, low power, medium voltage, and can operate at moderately high speeds. It was originally made in the TO-18 metal can as shown in the picture.

2N2222A in metal TO-18 package with the emitter, base and collector identified as E, B, and C respectively.
Cross section of 2N2222 in metal TO-18 package, showing connection wires between external pins and die.

The 2N2222 is considered a very common transistor,[1][2][3] and is used as an exemplar of an NPN transistor. It is frequently used as a small-signal transistor,[4][5] and it remains a small general purpose transistor[6] of enduring popularity.[7][8][9]

The 2N2222 was part of a family of devices described by Motorola at a 1962 IRE convention.[10] Since then it has been made by many semiconductor companies, for example, Texas Instruments.[11]

Specifications

The JEDEC registration of a device number ensures particular rated values will be met by all parts offered under that number. JEDEC registered parameters include outline dimensions, small-signal current gain, transition frequency, maximum values for voltage withstand, current rating, power dissipation and temperature rating, and others, measured under standard test conditions. Other part numbers will have different parameters. The exact specifications depend on the manufacturer, case type, and variation. Therefore, it is important to refer to the datasheet for the exact part number and manufacturer.

Manufacturer Vce Ic PD fT
ST Microelectronics[12]
2N2222A		 40 V 800 mA 500 mW/1.8 W 300 MHz

All variations have a beta or current gain (hfe) of at least 100 in optimal conditions. It is used in a variety of analog amplification and switching applications.

Other switching transistors
Pinout of 2N2222 variants in plastic TO-92 package.

NPN silicon transistors with similar properties are also made in a variety of small through-hole and surface mount packages including TO-92, SOT-23, and SOT-223.

Replacements for the 2N2222 are commonly available in the cheaper TO-92 packaging, where it is known as the PN2222 or P2N2222, which has similar specifications except for the lower maximum collector current.[13] The P2N2222 has a different order of pins than the metal case 2N2222, with its emitter and collector connections switched; other plastic-case transistors also have different pinouts.

Single transistors are also available in several different surface mount packages, and a number of manufacturers market surface mount packages that incorporate several 2N2222-type transistors in one package as an array of transistors. The general specifications of the various variants are similar, with the biggest difference being the maximum allowable current and power dissipation.

The BC548 family, including the BC547A to BC550C, are lower voltage, lower current, general-purpose transistors in TO-92 packages, originating in Europe, that are often found in small-signal amplification and switching circuits of the type where the 2N2222 might otherwise be used. They are not true replacements, but comparable devices that may be substituted only in circuits where the maximum current and voltage ratings are not exceeded.

The 2N2907 is an equally popular PNP transistor complementary to the 2N2222.[14]

The 2N3904 is an NPN transistor that can only switch one-third the current of the 2N2222 but has otherwise similar characteristics. The 2N3904 exhibits its forward gain (beta) peak at a lower current than the 2N2222, and is useful in amplifier applications with reduced Ic, e.g., (gain peak at 10 mA for the 2N3904 but 150 mA for the 2N2222).

A version of the 2N2222A in a larger metal TO-39 case, the 2N2219A had a higher power dissipation rating (3 watts when attached to a heatsink that keeps the case temperature at 25 C, or 0.8 watts in free air, compared with only 1.8 watts and 0.5 watts (respectively) for the 2N2222A.[12]

Part numbers

The 2N2222 (NPN) and 2N2907 (PNP) are complementary transistor pairs.[15] The prefix of each part number varies for each physical package type.

Transistor part numbers
BJT Thru-hole Surface-mount
TO-18TO-92SOT23SOT223
NPN2N2222PN2222MMBT2222PZT2222A
PNP2N2907PN2907MMBT2907PZT2907A

See also

References
  1. Dan O'Sullivan, Tom Igoe; "Physical Computing"; Cengage Learning; pp.19; 2004; ISBN 1-59200-346-X
  2. Brad Graham, Kathy McGowan; "Mind Performance Projects for the Evil Genius"; McGraw Hill Professional; pp.18; 2010; ISBN 978-0-07-162392-6
  3. Brad Graham, Kathy McGowan; "51 High-Tech Practical Jokes for the Evil Genius"; McGraw Hill Professional; pp.12; 2007; ISBN 978-0-07-149494-6
  4. Gordon McComb; "The Robot Builder's Bonanza"; McGraw-Hill Professional; 2001; pp.261; ISBN 978-0-07-136296-2
  5. William Rynone; "Linear Active Circuits — Design and Analysis"; Artech House; pp.19; 1986; ISBN 0-89006-199-8
  6. Dennis Barnaal, "Analog and Digital Electronics for Scientific Application"; Breton Publishers; pp.301; 1982; ISBN 0-534-01044-X
  7. Rudolf F. Graf and William Sheets (2001). Build your own low-power transmitters: projects for the electronics experimenter. Newnes. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-7506-7244-3. The 2N2222, 2N2905, and 2N3055 devices, for example, which date back to the 1960s but have been improved, are still useful in new designs and are still popular for experimenters.
  8. Ed Da Silva (2001). High frequency and microwave engineering. Newnes. p. 263. ISBN 978-0-7506-5046-5. Typical examples are the well known NPN and PNP industrial and military types, 2N2222 and 2N2907, which have been used for over four decades and are still being used in many designs.
  9. Jack Ward. "THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2N2222: The Most Successful and Widely Used Transistor Ever Developed!". The Transistor Museum. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2011. Since its initial product launch by Motorola at the 1962 IRE Convention, the 2N2222 has become the most widely used and universally recognized transistor of all time. Billions of units have been manufactured over the past 45 years and there is continuing high volume annual production.
  10. http://www.semiconductormuseum.com/Transistors/Motorola/Haenichen/Haenichen_Page11.htm Haenichen oral history retrieved from the Semiconductor Museum 2011 May 13
  11. The Transistor and Diode Data Book for Design Engineers, Texas Instruments Incorporated, no date, TI publication number CC413 71242-73-CSS, page 4-93
  12. "2N2219A, 2N2222A High Speed Switches" (PDF). STMicroelectronics. February 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  13. http://www.fairchildsemi.com/ds/PN/PN2222.pdf Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 June 2012
  14. Dave Hrynkiw and Mark W. Tilden (2002). Junkbots, bugbots, and bots on wheels: building simple robots with BEAM technology. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-07-222601-0. Learn to keep an eye open for the following transistors, as they're among the most useful, inexpensive, and popular types: PN2222/PN2907 These are general-purpose NPN/PNP transistors that can drive some good amounts of power. They're listed together because they're complementary transistors.
  15. "2N2907 & 2N2907A datasheet" (PDF). Comset Semiconductors. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 August 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2022.

Further reading
Historical Databooks
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