Sorting Ge transistors

[soggybag]

I have a bag of Ge transistors and one of those TC1 Multi-testers. I not sure how to look at these numbers.

The TC1 shows: Hfe, Ube, Ic, Iceo, Ices. Here are the values for the first few devices on my list. I'm guessing that I'm looking for hfe of 70-120.

Is Ube or Ices the leakage value I should be looking at? I'd want devices with a leakage less than 300?

I'm assuming these raw numbers are good. Or is there calculation that needs to happen to find the actual gain?


ID hfe Ube Ic  Iceo Ices Part#    Type
1  81  98  1.3 0.4  37   AC128/01 PNP
2  52  164 6.8 0.13 15   AC128/02 PNP
3  67  93  1.0 0.31 32   AC128/03 PNP
4  208 133 2.7 0.55 21   AC128/04 PNP
5  227 132 3.5 1.1  30   AC128/05 PNP
6  64  93  0.9 0.25 31   AC128/06 PNP
7  58  155 6.8 0.29 30   AC128/07 PNP
8  54  151 6.8 0.25 32   AC128/08 PNP

Here's a link to a spreadsheet with a full list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10O7FYfs_f0x301CYvcvC7pWFFp8Ld2-e3oANXK-AOtc

[mozz]

First, what are you building? You don't have to look for certain gains/leakages. Swap out transistors, bias your trimmers if using them. Once you find a pair  (or 3) that you like, then measure them, take notes. People get so hung up on 70-100 blah blah. Many fuzzes for example work from 40 -250, sometimes i like the sound much better with the higher gain first. Do not touch the transistor before testing them, leakages will rise, gains not so much.

I'm saying this because you have a bunch, so just swap till it sounds good. Even the one with 1100ua leakage is useful, in a FZ-1 or maybe a tonebender.

[soggybag]

I'm looking for ways to use the transistors up. I have three Fuzz Factories and three Tone Bender boards waiting for a build, and if I can squeeze a couple Fuzz Faces out of these that would be great.