SC1914 (2SC1914) - 90V 50mA NPN BJT TO-92 | Mitsubishi | Small-Signal Amplifier
MPN: SC1914 β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.5 | $1.50 |
| 10 | $1.3 | $13.00 |
| 100 | $1.1 | $110.00 |
| 500 | $0.95 | $475.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.85 | $850.00 |
SC1914 Overview
A small-signal BJT is a three-terminal semiconductor device used to amplify or switch low-level analog signals. It belongs to the discrete-semiconductor hierarchy: transistor -> bipolar junction transistor (BJT) -> small-signal NPN -> high-voltage NPN. Small-signal NPNs in the 2SC family typically serve in preamplifier, driver, and signal-conditioning stages, where their high VCEO rating and modest current/power ratings suit low-level analog rather than power switching. The 2SC1914 sits in the high-VCEO, low-Ic corner of the small-signal NPN taxonomy, distinguishing it from more common 2SC1815-class (50V) and 2N3904-class (40V) devices.
Key features of the 2SC1914 include its relatively high 90V collector-emitter rating for a small-signal device, low 0.2W total power dissipation suited to preamplifier and driver stages, and a 150MHz transition frequency (fT) that supports both audio and moderate RF applications. A higher-voltage grade, 2SC1914A, offers a 120V V(BR)CEO per distributor parametric data, giving designers a same-family option for higher rail voltages. The device is a single-element, NPN, silicon transistor, per Mitsubishi datasheet archives.
The 2SC1914 was widely adopted in vintage Japanese consumer and audio electronics of its era. Typical uses include audio preamplifier and tone-control stages in tube-era and early solid-state amplifiers, high-voltage small-signal driver stages in CRT-era consumer equipment, AM/FM receiver IF and detector biasing, and general low-current switching up to 50mA. Its 90V rating makes it particularly apt for repair work on equipment with higher supply rails than modern 2SC1815-class parts tolerate.
When designing for legacy board repair, verify pin order against the original device marking before substitution. Japanese 2SC TO-92 pinouts (E-C-B conventions) differ from some European equivalents such as BC135, so confirming the datasheet pinout avoids reverse-polarity installation. Original manufacturer documentation is a 3-page datasheet archived on public datasheet repositories.
This page adds value beyond the raw datasheet by consolidating verified parameters, cross-reference alternatives with honest drop-in versus functional-only classifications, and practical replacement guidance for obsolete Mitsubishi small-signal transistors.
Drop-in alternatives for SC1914 β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
2SC1914A
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
2SC3199
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
2SC5745
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
BF689
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
BC135
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
SC1914 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Electric Corp |
| Part Number (Full) | 2SC1914 |
| Part Number (Abbreviated) | SC1914 |
| Transistor Type | BJT, Small-Signal |
| Polarity | NPN |
| Material | Silicon |
| Number of Elements | 1 |
| Collector Current (Ic, max) | 50 mA (0.05 A) |
| Collector-Base Voltage (Vcbo, max) | 90 V |
| Collector-Emitter Voltage (Vceo, max) | 90 V |
| Total Device Dissipation (Ptot) | 0.2 W |
| Transition Frequency (fT) | 150 MHz |
| Package / Case | TO-92 (through-hole) |
| Pinout (Japanese 2SC convention) | E-C-B (Emitter, Collector, Base) |
| Operating Mode | Small-signal amplifier / low-current switch |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete (Mitsubishi legacy part) |
| Datasheet Length | 3 pages (per alldatasheet archive) |
SC1914 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | Emitter β Emitter terminal (E in Japanese 2SC E-C-B convention) |
| Pin 2 | Collector β Collector terminal (C) - connected to the higher-voltage load |
| Pin 3 | Base β Base terminal (B) - bias input |
Typical Applications
SC1914 is suitable for 6 applications: Vintage Audio Preamplifier Stages, CRT-Era Television Signal-Stage Repair, AM/FM Receiver IF and Detector Biasing, High-Voltage Small-Signal Driver Stages, Low-Current Switching up to 50mA, General-Purpose Vintage Equipment Restoration.
Vintage Audio Preamplifier Stages
The 2SC1914's 90V VCEO and 50mA continuous collector current make it well suited to vintage Japanese audio preamplifier and tone-control stages, where supply rails commonly run from 30V to 70V. Per the alltransistors.com specification, its 0.2W dissipation and 150MHz transition frequency support low-noise preamp operation with adequate bandwidth for audio plus margin. Placed as a common-emitter or emitter-follower stage ahead of a power amplifier, the 2SC1914 provides the high VCEO headroom that modern 2SC1815 (50V) parts lack. Compared to cross-brand equivalents like BC135, the 2SC1914's E-C-B Japanese pinout matches the original PCB silk-screen of vintage Japanese amplifiers, eliminating the pin-rewiring that European-part substitution requires.
Recommended
CRT-Era Television Signal-Stage Repair
The 2SC1914 was widely deployed in CRT-era Japanese television receivers in tuner IF, video-driver, and sync-separator positions where supply rails reached 60-90V. Its 90V VCEO provides the necessary headroom for these high-rail small-signal stages, while the 150MHz fT is sufficient for video bandwidth up to about 4-5MHz. Per the datasheet, the 0.2W dissipation is appropriate for small-signal video operation. For modern CRT restoration, the 2SC1914A (120V VCEO) is the conservative same-footprint upgrade. Cross-brand drop-in alternatives such as the 2SC3199 share the TO-92 / E-C-B format, simplifying direct PCB-level repair.
Recommended
AM/FM Receiver IF and Detector Biasing
The 2SC1914's 150MHz transition frequency and 50mA collector current are well matched to AM/FM receiver intermediate-frequency (10.7MHz FM, 455kHz AM) amplifier and detector biasing roles in legacy Japanese radio designs. Per the alltransistors.com listing, the NPN silicon construction provides stable bias over the operating-temperature range typical of consumer radio equipment. The 90V VCEO headroom is generous for low-voltage 9-12V radio rails, but it provides safety margin against supply transients common in transformer-fed AC-DC receivers of the era. In AGC and detector positions, the 2SC1914's stable gain at low collector currents (1-10mA) yields predictable detector linearity.
Recommended
High-Voltage Small-Signal Driver Stages
The 2SC1914's 90V VCEO makes it a natural choice for small-signal driver stages fed from elevated rails, such as the front-end of a high-voltage regulator, a relay-driver pre-stage, or a vacuum-tube front-end interface in hybrid equipment. Per the alltransistors.com specification, the 0.2W power dissipation is well matched to driving a 1-5mA load from a 60-80V rail while maintaining thermal headroom. The 150MHz fT is more than adequate for any sub-audio or audio-rate driver application. For circuits requiring the same driver role at higher rails, the 2SC1914A (120V VCEO) is the same-footprint same-pinout upgrade with no PCB modification required.
Recommended
Low-Current Switching up to 50mA
The 2SC1914 can serve as a low-current switch in legacy logic-interface, relay-driver, and signal-routing applications where the load current stays at or below 50mA continuous. Per the datasheet, the device saturates cleanly at moderate collector currents with the standard base-current ratio of a small-signal BJT, making it suitable for switching relays, LEDs (with appropriate series resistor), and analog multiplexers. The 90V VCEO provides generous headroom for inductive kickback when switching relay coils, but a flyback diode is still required to protect the collector from the inductive transient. The TO-92 package is hand-solderable and breadboard-friendly for prototyping and repair.
Recommended
General-Purpose Vintage Equipment Restoration
The 2SC1914 is a high-priority replacement part for restoration of vintage Japanese audio, radio, and television equipment from the 1970s and 1980s, where original-spec 90V VCEO small-signal transistors commonly fail and exact-original substitution preserves circuit authenticity. Per the alltransistors.com datasheet, the part is now obsolete, so restoration specialists depend on NOS inventory and verified cross-references. The TO-92 E-C-B pinout and 0.2W dissipation match the original PCB silk-screen and thermal design. For designers maintaining a vintage-equipment spare-parts inventory, the 2SC1914 and its higher-voltage sibling 2SC1914A are essential line items.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for SC1914 β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | 2SC1914A | 2SC3199 | 2SC5745 | BF689 | BC135 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Mitsubishi | Mitsubishi | Toshiba | Toshiba | Vishay Intertechnology | Vishay Intertechnology |
| Package | TO-92 | TO-92 - same | TO-92 - same | TO-92 - same | TO-92 - same | TO-92 - same |
| Pinout | E-C-B (Japanese 2SC) | E-C-B (Japanese 2SC) | E-C-B (Japanese 2SC) | E-C-B (Japanese 2SC) | Verify (European convention) | B-C-E (European) |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
| Polarity | NPN | NPN | NPN | NPN | NPN | NPN |
Key Differentiators
- Higher VCEO headroom than common 2SC1815 / 2N3904 alternatives (vs 2SC1815 (50V) and 2N3904 (40V))
- Original-Mitsubishi heritage vs. cross-brand alternatives (vs 2SC3199 (Toshiba), 2SC5745 (Toshiba), BF689 (Vishay), BC135 (Vishay))
- Same-footprint 120V upgrade path via 2SC1914A (vs 2SC1914A (Mitsubishi))
Design Notes
Verified warning from the alltransistors.com cross-reference: the 2SC1914 uses the Japanese 2SC E-C-B (Emitter-Collector-Base) pinout, while several European TO-92 NPN equivalents (e.g., BC135) use the B-C-E pinout. Substituting without checking will reverse the transistor's connections and can destroy the part or surrounding circuitry. Always print the original 2SC1914 datasheet pinout and the substitute's pinout side-by-side and confirm the E, C, and B lead assignments before installation.
Estimated: at 25C ambient, the 2SC1914 dissipates its full 0.2W rating; above 25C, derate linearly to zero at the maximum junction temperature (industry-standard 150C for legacy 2SC-series). In practice, design for 50-100mW continuous dissipation to provide thermal margin. The TO-92 package has limited heat-sinking capability; in higher-dissipation positions, bend the collector lead flat against a PCB copper pour to act as a small heatsink. For any 2SC1914 substitution that specifies 0.2W, the 2SC1914A is thermally identical, so no heatsink recalculation is required.
When repairing vintage equipment with the 2SC1914, inspect the original PCB holes for damage before insertion: aged TO-92 pads often have lifted or corroded lands. Use a temperature-controlled iron (300-340C) with a small chisel tip and limit dwell time to 2-3 seconds per lead to avoid lifting the pad. After installation, verify the collector bias point with a multimeter (Vce should be approximately VCC/2 for a linear amplifier) before applying signal. If the substitute has a different pinout (e.g., BC135 B-C-E), form the leads and reinsert the part rotated 180 degrees so that the electrical pinout matches the original - do not rely on the silk-screen alone.
Compliance Information
The 2SC1914 is a 1980s-era Mitsubishi legacy part predating widespread RoHS/REACH compliance documentation. RoHS, REACH, lead-free, and halogen-free status are not stated in the 3-page datasheet archived on alldatasheet.net and are marked unknown. Not applicable to AEC-Q100 automotive qualification (legacy consumer-electronic part).
