The big equivalent thread

[level42]

Starting a thread here to document known equivalents for parts often used in our hobby, f.i. transistors.

Finding the original parts is often hard in Europe or expensive to get from the US. So it is great to have known working alternatives that can be sourced locally.

I'll start with the big transistors used on the Amplifone deflection board 2N3716 (NPN) and 2N3792 (PNP):

Info found here:
http://www.biltronix.com/transistor_subs_01.html

Amplifone monitors:
2N3716 (NPN)=> 2N3773,2N3773G,MJ2196G,MJ21194,MJ15015,MH15003,2N5038,2N5686,2N5886,MJ15022,MJ15024,2N5878

2N3792 (PNP) => 2N6609,MJ21195,MJ21193,MJ15016,MJ15004,2N5684,2N5884,MJ15023,MJ15025, MJ4502,MJ2955,2N5876

MPSU07 => CENU07, NTE188, NSDU07
MPSU57 => CENU57, NTE189, NSDU57

Note 1 about MPS -> often there is a dash used in the middle so MPSU07 is noted as MPS-U07, this is also true for the equivalents so be sure to search on both terms).

Note 2 about MPS -> there are many more known equivalents HOWEVER these have a different pin configuration ! This means it is either extremely hard to install them (you have to twist a pin, try that without shorting them) or impossible on the Amplifone heat-sink.


Power supplies:
2N6055 NPN =>2N6284 (best choice), 2N6578,2N6577,2N6576,2N6059

Feel free to add info, but please be sure that they are not just theoretical equivalents but proven to work, OR clearly indicate so !

[numbers in bold I have personally seen working fine.]

[level42]

Some equivalents I just found on Amplifone deflection boards. I ASSUME these were working boards once, but the boards have been used as "donation" boards since some parts were missing.

I measured them and they seem OK, I'm rebuilding these boards and will test them so we'll know if these are working equivalents soon.

I _did_ check the parameters and they look OK, even better than original.

2N3716 (NPN) => SK9134

2N3792 (PNP) => SK9136, ECG281

[EDIT] Just tested the ECG281 again and it looks defective. There is a 0,18 voltage drop between collector and emitter in both directions, should be open so I won't be able to confirm that one as working. Not going to take any chances

[Blanka]

I have a program called Torbase. It also does a really good job finding replacement parts.

[level42]

Ha, that's been around for quite some time. I think I once had an official version of that for the job I had at that time (fixing Taiwanese computer CRT monitors). After running 10 transistors that were used in those monitors and Torbase coming up with ZERO alternatives I packed it up, wrote a nice note about my experiences and asked back the money (even though it was for the boss ).

Of course that was like 20 years ago or so...

There is also this:

www.alltransistors.com

Of course this is good to use as reference to check parameters but they often fail to show pin-outs which is pretty important for the MPSU's.

I just found out that my local electronics actually HAS MPSU07's for a crazy low price: €1 each !!!!! I guess I should buy them all and start selling them, much cheaper than ANY other place I found them

They don't have the MPSU57 though but DO have the MPSU56. The only difference is that the voltage is 80V instead of 100V and hFE is min.60 instead of 80.

I have no idea what voltages there are on the MPSU57's on the Amplifone board so I'm not search if the 56's will be good enough...

[level42]

You can download an old version (?) of Torbase here:

http://www.philipsradios.nl/forum/index.php?mode=thread&id=17160

Runs under DOS (or DOS box).  Haven't tried it myself yet...

[Etienne MacGyver]

i dont see any link on that page to the download 

[level42]

Uh...crap you're right...sorry

[level42]

Just tried the first reworked deflection Amplifone board: works like a charm (it is STILL exiting every time you power up something "new"...)

This will be my spare deflection board. I had to figure out what TO-3 transistor my local supplier had and see if they would work judging by the specs. (and transistors that didn't have astronomical prices (like over €15 !!). I found the MJ4502. The only spec that was not up to the 2n37.. was f=2 Mhz instead of 4Mhz but the Billtronix page I linked to earlier already stated that 2Mhz would work fine.

I just tried the deflection board for 45 minutes in my cockpit and it worked brilliantly. Can't see any problems at all.

Now on to the 2nd board...this will be up for sale !

[level42]

Ha, just noticed, there's an MJ2955 (intead of 2N3792) on my original deflection board...I guess that works pretty OK seeing it's flawless performance since.....a long time

[Etienne MacGyver]

sounds all great !

[level42]

They don't have the MPSU57 though but DO have the MPSU56. The only difference is that the voltage is 80V instead of 100V and hFE is min.60 instead of 80.

I have no idea what voltages there are on the MPSU57's on the Amplifone board so I'm not search if the 56's will be good enough...

I checked by measuring and looking at The WG6100 schematics (The final transistor stages are pretty thesame between Amplifone and 6100) and the voltages on the MPSUs stay well below 30V. So I bought a couple of MPSU56s and installed one on an Amplifone deflection board and just did a two hour test run including game play and it works just FINE. I measured temps with my brand new "temperature gun" and they stay below 40 degr. Celsius after a couple of games on the TO-3s, much less on the MPSUs.
The picture is absolutely perfect, cannot see difference with my original board.

So...although not exactly equivalent, I think it is safe enough to use MPSU56 instead of MPSU57.
Following this it should be equally safe to use a MPSU06 instead of MPSU07

[level42]

2n3716 => 2N5878
2N3792 => 2N5876

Just found these at the beige deflection board I'm working on. The most interesting bit is that the production dates are from week 40 and 49 1983. Since the beige boards were the last revision of the Amplifone boards these transitors MAY have been factory installed.

I just checked them on alltransistors.com and the specs are slightly less than the originals. The 2N5876 is dead but I will try the 2N5878 to see if it works OK.

[Belike]

2n3716 => 2N3055
2N3792 => MJ2955

Made a 3 hour fry test with these, all worked fine.

[level42]

Excellent !

Found a nice table if you are looking to convert f.i. uF values to nF etc. :

http://www.justradios.com/uFnFpF.html

[Belike]

Excellent !

Found a nice table if you are looking to convert f.i. uF values to nF etc. :

http://www.justradios.com/uFnFpF.html

Lol, I also found this site a few weeks back, trying to repair a Galaxian pcb's sound section.