SMD marking

SSin SMA

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.

Not sure which one you have?

Answer up to 4 quick questions and these 5 parts are ranked, with a meter test that settles it. It works on a dead part too.

The only part printed SS in this package in our tables

SMAJ188A

What it is: TVS diode
Maker: Vishay
Package: SMA
Pins: 2
Details: 400 W TVS diode, unidirectional
Source: From the manufacturer's datasheet

Is it dead?

Diode range, from the protected line to ground, part lifted if you can.

Working, it reads

A one-way part reads about 0.6 to 0.8 V forward and open in reverse. A two-way part reads open both ways. Arrays with several lines read as the datasheet's diagram draws them.

Dead, it reads

From the line to ground, the same reading both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep: shorted.
A reading both ways on a one-way part: leaky.
A one-way part open both ways: failed open.

On the board:: On the board, a line reading shorted to ground can be this part or anything else on that line. Lift it: if the short goes with it, it has failed.
Compare:: The same part on the next line or connector pin is the healthy reading to compare with.
Watch for:: A two-way part reads open both ways when it is good, exactly like one that has failed open. The meter cannot tell them apart; an identical part on the next line can.

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

Datasheet

Printed with a code easy to misread

These parts are printed with a character that is easy to misread as what you typed. The odd one out is marked on each.

all Infineon. What differs:

BAT15-05Wprinted S5Schottky diodeSchottky diode
Printed S5 on the part. Easy to misread as SS. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.
What it is
Schottky diode
Maker
Infineon
Package
Not recorded
Pins
Not recorded
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted or one leg off the pad. Red probe on the anode.
Working, it reads
About 0.15 to 0.45 V anode to cathode, roughly half a silicon diode, and open the other way.
Dead, it reads
The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
A reading the wrong way round as well: leaky.
Open both ways: failed open.
On the board:
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 large Schottky can read about 0.1 V forward and beep like a short, and leaks a little the wrong way when good, more when warm. It is shorted only if it reads the same both ways. Measure it cold, beside an identical cold one.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor BAT15-05W, opens in a new tab
BAT15-099printed S5Schottky diodeSchottky diode
Printed S5 on the part. Easy to misread as SS. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.
What it is
Schottky diode
Maker
Infineon
Package
Not recorded
Pins
Not recorded
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted or one leg off the pad. Red probe on the anode.
Working, it reads
About 0.15 to 0.45 V anode to cathode, roughly half a silicon diode, and open the other way.
Dead, it reads
The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
A reading the wrong way round as well: leaky.
Open both ways: failed open.
On the board:
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 large Schottky can read about 0.1 V forward and beep like a short, and leaks a little the wrong way when good, more when warm. It is shorted only if it reads the same both ways. Measure it cold, beside an identical cold one.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor BAT15-099, opens in a new tab
BAT17-05printed 55Schottky diodeSchottky diode
Printed 55 on the part. Easy to misread as SS. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.
What it is
Schottky diode
Maker
Infineon
Package
Not recorded
Pins
Not recorded
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted or one leg off the pad. Red probe on the anode.
Working, it reads
About 0.15 to 0.45 V anode to cathode, roughly half a silicon diode, and open the other way.
Dead, it reads
The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
A reading the wrong way round as well: leaky.
Open both ways: failed open.
On the board:
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 large Schottky can read about 0.1 V forward and beep like a short, and leaks a little the wrong way when good, more when warm. It is shorted only if it reads the same both ways. Measure it cold, beside an identical cold one.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor BAT17-05, opens in a new tab
BBY57-02Lprinted 55Not recorded
Printed 55 on the part. Easy to misread as SS. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.
What it is
Not recorded
Maker
Infineon
Package
Not recorded
Pins
Not recorded
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
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:
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.
Datasheetfor BBY57-02L, opens in a new tab

5 more parts have codes that begin with SS

Codes that begin with SS

For a marking with its end worn or burnt off. Each one shows its full printed code.

BSS7728Nprinted sSKN-channel MOSFET, InfineonN-channel MOSFETInfineon
Printed sSK. Only the start matches what you typed, so this fits only if the rest of the marking is worn off.
What it is
N-channel MOSFET
Maker
Infineon
Package
Not recorded
Pins
Not recorded
Details
N-Channel Small Signal MOSFET 60 V in SOT-23 package
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted. Test drain to source first, then short gate to source and test again.
Working, it reads
Red probe on the source, black on the drain: about 0.4 to 0.9 V, the body diode. Open the other way. The gate reads open to both other pins, both ways.
Dead, it reads
Drain to source the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep, and still so after shorting gate to source: shorted. The classic failure.
The gate reads low to source or drain: gate shorted. Often all three pins end up shorted together.
No body diode at all: failed open.
On the board:
On the board the gate usually has a resistor to the source, so gate to source reads that resistor, which is not a fault. A drain short can be the load. Lift a leg to be sure.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
The diode range can charge the gate enough to turn the part on, and then drain to source reads near 0 both ways on a good part. Short gate to source and test again before you condemn it.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor BSS7728N, opens in a new tab
PEC1205S1Qprinted 5SPESD protection diode, PanjitESD protection diodePanjit
Printed 5SP. Only the start matches what you typed, so this fits only if the rest of the marking is worn off.
What it is
ESD protection diode
Maker
Panjit
Package
Not recorded
Pins
Not recorded
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, from the protected line to ground, part lifted if you can.
Working, it reads
A one-way part reads about 0.6 to 0.8 V forward and open in reverse. A two-way part reads open both ways. Arrays with several lines read as the datasheet's diagram draws them.
Dead, it reads
From the line to ground, the same reading both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep: shorted.
A reading both ways on a one-way part: leaky.
A one-way part open both ways: failed open.
On the board:
On the board, a line reading shorted to ground can be this part or anything else on that line. Lift it: if the short goes with it, it has failed.
Compare:
The same part on the next line or connector pin is the healthy reading to compare with.
Watch for:
A two-way part reads open both ways when it is good, exactly like one that has failed open. The meter cannot tell them apart; an identical part on the next line can.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor PEC1205S1Q, opens in a new tab
PJQ5514S6C-AUprinted 5514S6CMOSFET, PanjitMOSFETPanjit
Printed 5514S6C. Only the start matches what you typed, so this fits only if the rest of the marking is worn off.
What it is
MOSFET
Maker
Panjit
Package
Not recorded
Pins
Not recorded
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted. Test drain to source first, then short gate to source and test again.
Working, it reads
One way between drain and source reads about 0.4 to 0.9 V, the body diode, and the other way open. The gate reads open to both other pins.
Dead, it reads
Drain to source the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep, and still so after shorting gate to source: shorted. The classic failure.
The gate reads low to source or drain: gate shorted.
No body diode at all: failed open.
On the board:
On the board the gate usually has a resistor to the source, which reads as that resistor and is not a fault. Lift a leg to be sure.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
The diode range can charge the gate enough to turn the part on, and then drain to source reads near 0 both ways on a good part. Short gate to source and test again before you condemn it.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor PJQ5514S6C-AU, opens in a new tab
PJQ5546S6V-AUprinted 5546S6VMOSFET, PanjitMOSFETPanjit
Printed 5546S6V. Only the start matches what you typed, so this fits only if the rest of the marking is worn off.
What it is
MOSFET
Maker
Panjit
Package
Not recorded
Pins
Not recorded
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted. Test drain to source first, then short gate to source and test again.
Working, it reads
One way between drain and source reads about 0.4 to 0.9 V, the body diode, and the other way open. The gate reads open to both other pins.
Dead, it reads
Drain to source the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep, and still so after shorting gate to source: shorted. The classic failure.
The gate reads low to source or drain: gate shorted.
No body diode at all: failed open.
On the board:
On the board the gate usually has a resistor to the source, which reads as that resistor and is not a fault. Lift a leg to be sure.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
The diode range can charge the gate enough to turn the part on, and then drain to source reads near 0 both ways on a good part. Short gate to source and test again before you condemn it.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor PJQ5546S6V-AU, opens in a new tab
PSMQB550N10NS2printed 550GS2MOSFET, PanjitMOSFETPanjit
Printed 550GS2. Only the start matches what you typed, so this fits only if the rest of the marking is worn off.
What it is
MOSFET
Maker
Panjit
Package
Not recorded
Pins
Not recorded
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted. Test drain to source first, then short gate to source and test again.
Working, it reads
One way between drain and source reads about 0.4 to 0.9 V, the body diode, and the other way open. The gate reads open to both other pins.
Dead, it reads
Drain to source the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep, and still so after shorting gate to source: shorted. The classic failure.
The gate reads low to source or drain: gate shorted.
No body diode at all: failed open.
On the board:
On the board the gate usually has a resistor to the source, which reads as that resistor and is not a fault. Lift a leg to be sure.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
The diode range can charge the gate enough to turn the part on, and then drain to source reads near 0 both ways on a good part. Short gate to source and test again before you condemn it.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor PSMQB550N10NS2, opens in a new tab

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