Skip to content

SMD code RC in SOT-23

Marking codes are not standardised, and the same code is reused by unrelated makers for unrelated parts. Below is every part in our tables printed with it, and any printed with a code that is easy to misread as it, from the manufacturers' own marking tables and published code lists.

Not sure which one you have?

Answer up to 4 quick questions and these 42 parts are ranked, with a meter test that settles it. It works on a dead part too.

  • 2SB1197KGPSOT-23PNP transistor, ChenmkoPNP transistorChenmko
    What it is
    PNP transistor
    Maker
    Chenmko
    Package
    SOT-23
    Pins
    3
    Details
    PNP Switching Transistor, 32 V, 0.8 A
    Source
    Manufacturer datasheet

    Is it dead? The meter test is below: PNP transistor.

  • BFR193SOT-23RF transistor, InfineonRF transistorInfineon
    What it is
    RF transistor
    Maker
    Infineon
    Package
    SOT-23
    Pins
    3
    Source
    Manufacturer datasheet

    Is it dead? The meter test is below: Bipolar transistor.

  • KTC3770SSOT-23NPN transistor, KECNPN transistorKEC
    What it is
    NPN transistor
    Maker
    KEC
    Package
    SOT-23
    Pins
    3
    Source
    Manufacturer datasheet

    Is it dead? The meter test is below: NPN transistor.

  • 2SB1197KPT-RSOT-23PNP transistor, Chenmko EnterprisePNP transistorChenmko Enterprise
    What it is
    PNP transistor
    Maker
    Chenmko Enterprise
    Package
    SOT-23
    Pins
    3
    Details
    PNP transistor: AF, Sw, 32V, 800mA, B=180..390, 200MHz
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead? The meter test is below: PNP transistor.

  • 2SC2618-CSOT-23NPN transistor, RenesasNPN transistorRenesas
    What it is
    NPN transistor
    Maker
    Renesas
    Package
    SOT-23
    Pins
    3
    Details
    Si-npn: GP, AF, 35V, 500mA, 150mW, B=100..200
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead? The meter test is below: NPN transistor.

  • 2SC2618CSOT-23RenesasNot recordedRenesas
    What it is
    Not recorded
    Maker
    Renesas
    Package
    SOT-23
    Pins
    3
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead? The meter test is below: This part.

  • AP7333-15SRSOT-23LDO regulator, Diodes IncorporatedLDO regulatorDiodes Incorporated
    What it is
    LDO regulator
    Maker
    Diodes Incorporated
    Package
    SOT-23
    Pins
    3
    Details
    Linear voltage regulator IC: LDO, 1.5V±2%, 300mA
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead? The meter test is below: Voltage regulator.

  • ASM1810R-15SOT-23AliNot recordedAli
    What it is
    Not recorded
    Maker
    Ali
    Package
    SOT-23
    Pins
    3
    Details
    CMOS-IC: Voltage Detector 4,12V, -Reset Push-pull output
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead? The meter test is below: Integrated circuit.

  • BZB84-B43SOT-23Zener diode, NXPZener diodeNXP
    What it is
    Zener diode
    Maker
    NXP
    Package
    SOT-23
    Pins
    3
    Details
    43V Zener Diodes
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead? The meter test is below: Zener diode.

  • RN2423SOT-23Digital transistor (PNP, resistors built in), ToshibaDigital transistor (PNP, resistors built in)Toshiba
    What it is
    Digital transistor (PNP, resistors built in)
    Maker
    Toshiba
    Package
    SOT-23
    Pins
    3
    Details
    Si-pnp-Digi: Mute, 50V, 800mA, 200mW, R1/R2=4.7k/4.7k
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead? The meter test is below: Digital transistor.

  • TC1279-15ENBSOT-23Voltage supervisor, MicrochipVoltage supervisorMicrochip
    What it is
    Voltage supervisor
    Maker
    Microchip
    Package
    SOT-23
    Pins
    3
    Details
    CMOS-IC: Voltage Detector 4,12V, -Reset Push-pull output
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead? The meter test is below: Integrated circuit.

  • 4 more parts have no package on record. Nothing rules them out, so they stay.

Is it dead? One meter test per kind

Parts of the same kind are tested the same way, so each test is here once. Each part above points to its own.

PNP transistor

Diode range, part lifted or its base leg off the pad.

Working, it reads

Black probe on the base reads about 0.6 to 0.75 V to the emitter and to the collector, and open the other way round. Collector to emitter reads open both ways.

Dead, it reads

  • Collector to emitter the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep: shorted. The commonest failure.
  • The base the same both ways to another pin, near 0 V or a middling value: a shorted junction.
  • Only one junction reads, or none: a junction has failed open. It then looks like a diode.
  • A reading the wrong way round, where it should be open: leaky.
On the board
this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
A pair of diodes with a common pin reads just like a transistor, and some transistors carry a built-in diode or resistor. The datasheet says which.

A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.

Bipolar transistor

Diode range, part lifted or its base leg off the pad.

Working, it reads

From the base, one probe colour reads about 0.6 to 0.75 V to the emitter and to the collector, and open the other way round. Collector to emitter reads open both ways.

Dead, it reads

  • Collector to emitter the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep: shorted. The commonest failure.
  • The base the same both ways to another pin, near 0 V or a middling value: a shorted junction.
  • Only one junction reads, or none: a junction has failed open. It then looks like a diode.
  • A reading the wrong way round, where it should be open: leaky.
On the board
this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
A pair of diodes with a common pin reads just like a transistor, and some transistors carry a built-in diode or resistor. The datasheet says which.

A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.

NPN transistor

Diode range, part lifted or its base leg off the pad.

Working, it reads

Red probe on the base reads about 0.6 to 0.75 V to the emitter and to the collector, and open the other way round. Collector to emitter reads open both ways.

Dead, it reads

  • Collector to emitter the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep: shorted. The commonest failure.
  • The base the same both ways to another pin, near 0 V or a middling value: a shorted junction.
  • Only one junction reads, or none: a junction has failed open. It then looks like a diode.
  • A reading the wrong way round, where it should be open: leaky.
On the board
this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
A pair of diodes with a common pin reads just like a transistor, and some transistors carry a built-in diode or resistor. The datasheet says which.

A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.

This part

Diode range and ohms range, part lifted.

Working, it reads

Depends on what it is. The datasheet, or an identical part, says.

Dead, it reads

  • Between two pins, the same reading both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep: shorted.
  • Open between every pair of pins: failed open, or a part that reads open when working.
On the board
this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.

A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.

Voltage regulator

Voltage, board powered, black probe on ground. Then ohms with the power off.

Working, it reads

Input pin at the supply, output pin at its rated voltage, and the enable pin high if it has one.

Dead, it reads

  • Output equal to the input: the pass element has shorted. Everything after it may have taken the full input.
  • Input present, enable high, no output: failed open, or holding itself off into a shorted load. Power off and measure output to ground.
  • Power off, input to output near 0 Ω: shorted.
On the board:
An output at 0 V is often a shorted load with the regulator in current limit. Lift the output pin: if the short stays on the board, the regulator may be fine.
Compare:
The same regulator on another rail or another board shows the right voltages and the right resistances.
Watch for:
Makers put input, output and ground on different pins in the same package, so take them from this part's datasheet. Diode or ohms readings between its pins say little; check it powered.

A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.

Integrated circuit

Voltage with the board powered; ohms from each pin to ground with it off.

Working, it reads

Supply pin at its voltage and the output doing what the datasheet says. Readings between pins depend on the part.

Dead, it reads

  • A pin near 0 Ω to ground or to the supply pin where an identical part does not read that: failed short.
  • Supply present, output stuck: failed, or its load has.
On the board:
A pin shorted to ground on the board can be anything on that net. Lift the pin to be sure.
Compare:
The surest reference is the same IC on a working board, measured pin by pin.
Watch for:
Its protection diodes can read like junctions between pins, even like a transistor. That proves nothing either way.

A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.

Zener diode

Diode range for the forward check, part lifted, red probe on the anode. A bench supply for the Zener voltage.

Working, it reads

About 0.6 to 0.8 V forward and open in reverse on the diode range. Its Zener voltage shows only on a supply: feed it through a resistor that sets about 5 mA, cathode to positive, read quickly, and it should hold near its rated voltage.

Dead, it reads

  • The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
  • Open both ways, forward too: failed open.
  • Holds well off its rated voltage on the supply test: drifted.
  • A soft knee, or a voltage that creeps on the supply test: leaky.
On the board
this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
A meter's diode range stops at about 2 to 3 V, so almost every Zener reads open in reverse on it, good or bad; a 3 V meter may just show a 2.4 or 2.7 V part. Above about 3 V the meter cannot tell a Zener from a plain diode.

A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.

Digital transistor

Ohms range, part lifted. The datasheet gives the built-in resistors: R1 in series with the base, R2 from base to emitter.

Working, it reads

Base to emitter reads about R1 plus R2 either way round, about 20 kΩ on a 10 k and 10 k part, give or take their wide tolerance. Collector to emitter reads open. A part with no R2 reads a junction behind R1 one way instead.

Dead, it reads

  • Collector to emitter the same both ways, near 0 Ω with a continuous beep: shorted.
  • From the base, open or far above R1 plus R2: R1 has failed. Static damage shows here most often.
  • Base to emitter near 0 Ω: failed short.
On the board
this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
Compare:
The readings depend on the resistor values, so an identical part elsewhere on the board is the surest reference. Measure it the same way.
Watch for:
On the diode range a good part with 10 kΩ resistors reads open on every pair, so a good part looks dead there. Use the ohms range.

A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.

Printed with a code easy to misread as RC

One character differs, and it is one that is easy to confuse under a lamp. Each code has a page of its own.

Did you find your part?

Open this in the search to correct a character or try another package.