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February 1960 Radio-Electronics
 [Table of Contents]
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics.
See articles from Radio-Electronics,
published 1930-1988. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
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There aren't many
people using transistor substitution boxes these days because circuit simulator
software is readily available to reasonably predict which type will serve the
intended purpose. However, back in 1960 when this article appeared in
Radio-Electronics magazine, substitution boxes for not just transistors,
but also capacitors, resistors, and sometimes inductors were used quite often
when prototyping and/or troubleshooting circuits. I used resistor and capacitor
substitution boxes all the time in the early and mid 1980's while working as an
electronics technician at Westinghouse Oceanic Division, in Annapolis, Maryland.
That was my first place of employment after separating from the USAF. Prior to
moving into the engineering lab, I built electronics assemblies for U.S. Navy
sonars used on torpedoes, ship hulls, and
towed
vehicles, including printed circuit assemblies, cable harnesses, chassis
assemblies, and piezoelectric transducers. Occasionally, I was tasked to build
component substitution boxes for the engineering lab and the test equipment
repair / calibration (metrology) group. Little did I know at the time that in
the near future I would be using some of the equipment I built.
Transistor Substitution Box
Front panel of the transistor substitution box.
Chart at right
shows which transistor is in use.
10 transistors at your fingertips. Just flip a switch to select the one you want.
By Leonard J. D'Airo*
This transistor substitution box has proved to be a pretty valuable piece of
equipment on a number of occasions when transistor circuits were being checked out.
It has taken a rightful place in my workshop, alongside the resistance, capacitance
and inductance substitution boxes.
A transistor substitution box is, of course, much more expensive than the more
usual capacitor or resistor substitute array, at first sight so much so as to appear
impractical. But until we get a great deal more familiar with transistor receivers
and can spot a bad transistor more easily, the positive answers it gives save enough
servicing time to pay for it very quickly.
In this unit, there are substitutes for 10 transistors. Included are general-purpose,
small-signal audio, large-signal audio, power and RF types. Selection is for useful
characteristics and any combination may be used.
Circuit of the transistor substituter.
The combination shown in the schematic covers most practical applications. These
transistors are:
General purpose 2N107, 2N170
Small-signal audio 2N132, 2N214
Large-signal
audio 2N217, 2N213
Power 2N256
RF CK768, 2N484, 2N147
Note that in the first three groups, one transistor is a p-n-p and the other
is an n-p-n, while the power transistor is a p-n-p (since most applications use
a p-n-p unit). In the RF group, two transistors are p-n-p's and one is an n-p-n.
Inside the substitution box. Author used transistors other than
those in the schematic and listed on the box's front panel to match his own special
requirements.
The transistors suggested in the parts list represent the average units used
in transistor radios, amplifiers and related equipment. The types that are finally
chosen and used should match the particular requirements of the user.
A cigar box or aluminum chassis box can be used to mount the selector switch
and transistors. All wiring must be quite rigid and as short as possible. The power
transistor must be mounted on a heat sink and kept as far as possible from other
transistors.
* Author Servicing Transistor Radios, Gernsback Library.
Posted February 23, 2023
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