2n3906 is a PNP transistor. This means that the emitter and collector are closed when the base pin is held at the ground and will remain open once the signal is provided to the base pin. This feature is what makes PNP transistors different from NPN transistors.
2n3906 has a gain value of 110 to 300. This gain is used to determine the capacity the transistor has to amplify. You cannot collect loads that exceed 200mA using the transistor because the highest current that can flow through the collector pin is 200mA.
If you are looking for a PNP transistor that can switch high voltage loads of 0.2A, this is the transistor you are looking for.
2n3906 datasheet
According to its datasheet, some of the main specs of the transistor are:
- Available in To-92 package
- Maximum Base Current of 5mA
- Collector Base Voltage of 40V
- Bipolar PNP transistor
- Maximum DC Current Gain of 300hFE
- Continuous Collector Current of 200mA
- Emitter Base Voltage of 5V
- Collector-Emitter Voltage of 40V
The following are the key application areas for the transistor:
- It can be used in the Darlington pair
- Used to make lamp flashers, dual led or siren
- Used in converter and inverter circuits
- Used in different switching applications
- Best for loads with a peak voltage of up to 40V
- Used to switch high voltage low current loads
2n3906 pinout
The 2n3906 PNP transistor has three pins. The first pin is the emitter from which the current drains out from the emitter. The second one is the base pin which controls how the transistor is biased, while the third one is the collector pin. Here is where current flows in through the collector.
Look at the pinout diagram above.
2n3906 Equivalents and Replacement Details
2n3906 is a Bipolar Junction Transistor. Equivalent transistors for 2n3906 are ZTX555, MPSA55, MPSA92, MPSA13 and 2n4403. It is also very similar to the bc557 transistor, apart from the fact that it has a high collector to emitter voltage.