Where can I get a replacement A1242 transistor?
March 28, 2011 11:55 AM Subscribe
Where can I get a replacement A1242 transistor?
I blew up a LumoPro 160 strobe a.k.a. speedlite, apparently by firing it too quickly. (Let's leave the notion of whether a strobe should blow up by using it too quickly on the table. Yes I bought a cheap-ass strobe and yes I'm regretting it.) Upon disassembly, I found two three-pin devices which have clearly let out all of their magic smoke.
I removed them from the board and they look like this: http://www.photi.ca/photos/1231749129_BLkj6-L.jpg
(Yep, I've ruined some of the traces, and that's okay, I can fix it later. The components were wired on the board in parallel.)
I searched DigiKey for the visible part number, A1242, and it seems to be a power transistor by Toshiba. Unfortunately, digikey doesn't stock them and will only order them in lots of 800. I don't want 800. I want two.
Assuming I've identified the right part (have I?), from whom can I get two (or maybe four) of them sent to me in Canada?
I blew up a LumoPro 160 strobe a.k.a. speedlite, apparently by firing it too quickly. (Let's leave the notion of whether a strobe should blow up by using it too quickly on the table. Yes I bought a cheap-ass strobe and yes I'm regretting it.) Upon disassembly, I found two three-pin devices which have clearly let out all of their magic smoke.
I removed them from the board and they look like this: http://www.photi.ca/photos/1231749129_BLkj6-L.jpg
(Yep, I've ruined some of the traces, and that's okay, I can fix it later. The components were wired on the board in parallel.)
I searched DigiKey for the visible part number, A1242, and it seems to be a power transistor by Toshiba. Unfortunately, digikey doesn't stock them and will only order them in lots of 800. I don't want 800. I want two.
Assuming I've identified the right part (have I?), from whom can I get two (or maybe four) of them sent to me in Canada?
Mouser electronics says they are end-of-lifed.
Mouser has the "show similar" button there. So depending on pinouts, specs and what not (I'm not an EE, my last soldering was 10 years ago), you may find a compatible part to use instead. (Get the datasheet for the 1242 first, then start comparing .. )
posted by k5.user at 12:04 PM on March 28, 2011
Mouser has the "show similar" button there. So depending on pinouts, specs and what not (I'm not an EE, my last soldering was 10 years ago), you may find a compatible part to use instead. (Get the datasheet for the 1242 first, then start comparing .. )
posted by k5.user at 12:04 PM on March 28, 2011
Best answer: "Vintage" semiconductors sometimes show up on ebay. There's one of your 1242s in the UK right now - maybe check again in a few days.
posted by moonmilk at 12:20 PM on March 28, 2011
posted by moonmilk at 12:20 PM on March 28, 2011
Best answer: Yes you have the right part: the full part number is 2SA1242. I don't quickly see a suitable replacement due to the high VEBO of -8 (typical seems to be -5).
posted by fritley at 12:56 PM on March 28, 2011
posted by fritley at 12:56 PM on March 28, 2011
It's not the most time effective way to search for this, but see if there's a ham radio flea market anywhere around you. Or ask a ham. My dad has buckets of different transistors, capacitors, & other electronics goodness in his garage.
posted by smirkette at 3:25 PM on March 28, 2011
posted by smirkette at 3:25 PM on March 28, 2011
According to octopart, Quest Components has some in stock.
posted by moonmilk at 3:48 PM on March 28, 2011
posted by moonmilk at 3:48 PM on March 28, 2011
Don't.
Get the data sheet, analyze it, and get a replacement that has better specs. Unless you enjoy looking for sources for a part that is marginal in its application. Seek help from a EE friend or acquaintance.
I'm unfamiliar with this part and this application, and without a schematic or the actual board, not able to lend much to the search, but google turns up a lot of info and the data sheet on the part was easy enough to find. Doesn't look at that unusual... at least to me. NTE doesn't have a cross reference on the part, and while there appears to be a KA1242, I could find no sources for it, either. Have you checked eBay?
Also, unless you have a particular reason to stick with the package that this part comes in, you may find something closer to these specs in a slightly different package, such as a TO-220. That may help you find an alternative.
Is the thing you are repairing expensive/valuable/rare enough to warrant repair? If it's borderline and unreliable in design, it might just be a bad choice to fix it, as fixing it may become your new hobby.
posted by FauxScot at 3:50 AM on March 29, 2011
Get the data sheet, analyze it, and get a replacement that has better specs. Unless you enjoy looking for sources for a part that is marginal in its application. Seek help from a EE friend or acquaintance.
I'm unfamiliar with this part and this application, and without a schematic or the actual board, not able to lend much to the search, but google turns up a lot of info and the data sheet on the part was easy enough to find. Doesn't look at that unusual... at least to me. NTE doesn't have a cross reference on the part, and while there appears to be a KA1242, I could find no sources for it, either. Have you checked eBay?
Also, unless you have a particular reason to stick with the package that this part comes in, you may find something closer to these specs in a slightly different package, such as a TO-220. That may help you find an alternative.
Is the thing you are repairing expensive/valuable/rare enough to warrant repair? If it's borderline and unreliable in design, it might just be a bad choice to fix it, as fixing it may become your new hobby.
posted by FauxScot at 3:50 AM on March 29, 2011
Response by poster: FauxScot: it's a $200 strobe; if I can fix it for an hour of effort and a few bucks in parts that's good value. If it keeps failing of course I'll just throw it out. I don't have the knowledge to substitute a better part; that's a much larger time investment.
fritley: thanks for the confirmation!
moonmilk: Thanks for the octopart link and the in-stock information from Quest; I almost bought from Quest until I was confronted by absurd shipping fees and an order minimum. Ultimately I bought two of them from the UK eBay seller; $13 from them was much better than the $70 from Quest.
Question resolved! Thanks, everyone.
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:17 AM on March 29, 2011
fritley: thanks for the confirmation!
moonmilk: Thanks for the octopart link and the in-stock information from Quest; I almost bought from Quest until I was confronted by absurd shipping fees and an order minimum. Ultimately I bought two of them from the UK eBay seller; $13 from them was much better than the $70 from Quest.
Question resolved! Thanks, everyone.
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:17 AM on March 29, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by seanmpuckett at 11:55 AM on March 28, 2011