S8050

The S8050 is one of the most widely used general-purpose NPN transistors in consumer electronics, offering 25V collector-emitter voltage and 500mA continuous collector current. It is the complementary NPN pair to the S8550 PNP transistor, enabling push-pull and class-AB amplifier designs. Available in both through-hole TO-92 and surface-mount SOT-23 packages, the S8050 comes in multiple hFE ranks (B: 85-160, D: 160-300, D3: 300-400) to match application requirements. Its low cost and universal availability make it a go-to choice for low-power amplification and switching in toys, appliances, and consumer gadgets.

The S8050 is an NPN bipolar junction transistor using epitaxial planar silicon construction. Current flow from collector to emitter is controlled by the base current multiplied by the DC current gain (hFE). In the active region, the transistor amplifies signals with gain determined by the hFE rank (85-400). In saturation mode, VCE drops below 0.6V at 500mA, enabling efficient switching. The 150MHz transition frequency provides adequate bandwidth for audio and low-frequency RF applications. Paired with the complementary S8550 PNP transistor, it forms the basis for class-B and class-AB push-pull output stages.

• Small-signal audio preamplifier stages
• LED, buzzer, and small relay driver
• Push-pull audio output with S8550 complement
• Toy and appliance motor speed control
• General-purpose switching in consumer electronics