Uses for very low hFE transistors?

[MBFX]

I measured all my BC108s tonight, and three of them have very low gain - 23, 25, and 17 hFE. Would these be of any use anywhere, or are they trash?

 

[Laundryroom David]

I measured all my BC108s tonight, and three of them have very low gain - 23, 25, and 17 hFE. Would these be of any use anywhere, or are they trash?

Never seen bc108s with hFE that low. You could try them in a Darlington or Sziklai pair and see if it gives you any love in a Rangemaster for example. If memory serves, EQD had some designs that called for low gain si npn, like 3903 … I dunno I’d just hang on to them.

 

[MBFX]

Never seen bc108s with hFE that low. You could try them in a Darlington or Sziklai pair and see if it gives you any love in a Rangemaster for example. If memory serves, EQD had some designs that called for low gain si npn, like 3903 … I dunno I’d just hang on to them.

I was also very surprised. They are NOS Texas Instruments ones so I had high hopes, but I guess for being 40 years old a couple bad ones is to be expected. I figured values that low would basically constitute DOA transistors. Darlington is a good idea.... I could get 60hFE if I daisy chain them all!

 

[Feral Feline]

Use them as a diode, just short the base and collector — albeit it will have a very low reverse voltage.

A good option for that 17hFE is Delyk's Ensi Genxyde.

One of its transistors is meant to be silicon (or germanium) with an hFE less than (or up to) 40.

Breadboard some experiments with that Delyk circuit or various other circuits.


At any rate, definitely NOT trash — at worst, they could become art, if you think about it...