Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Weird transistor with six leads

9 views
Skip to first unread message

Ernie Werbel

unread,
Aug 4, 2006, 9:46:58 PM8/4/06
to
I was going through some stuff and came across a weird transistor. It is in
a TO-5 case but it has six long, gold-tinned lead wires coming out of it.
There are no numbers printed on the case. I was wondering if this is maybe
two transistors in one case perhaps? There is only one tab. I have never
seen anything like this before. I wonder how old it is.

__
|__|_
||| |||
||| |||
||| |||


Nirodac

unread,
Aug 5, 2006, 1:34:22 AM8/5/06
to
"Ernie Werbel" <fa...@email.com> wrote in
news:mMSAg.210$7m5.172@trnddc05:

Could also be a voltage regulator

jasen

unread,
Aug 5, 2006, 8:56:19 AM8/5/06
to

possibly a matched pair of transistors, or some sort of integrated circuit.

Bye.
Jasen

sparc

unread,
Aug 5, 2006, 2:05:57 PM8/5/06
to

maybe its a metallised spider ....with 2 legs missing

JeffM

unread,
Aug 5, 2006, 2:35:21 PM8/5/06
to
>I[...]came across a weird transistor.
>It is in a TO-5 case but it has six long, gold-tinned lead wires[...]

>There are no numbers printed on the case.
>I was wondering if this is maybe two transistors in one case perhaps?
>Ernie Werbel
>
Most likely. (They will be tightly matched)
Their matched temperatures (because they are so close to each other)
is another advantage

Others have guessed "IC".
Probably not: TO-99 has 8 legs and TO-100 has 10 legs.
http://66.102.9.104/images?q=to-99+ic+-Up-to-99+-10-to-99+-50-to-99

> __
> |__|_
> ||| |||
> ||| |||
>
This is how ASCII art looks to most Usenet users
when you try to do it in a proportional font:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.electronics/msg/6e4195e795dc425d?dmode=source

Do your drawings in a monospaced font like Courier
then paste that into your post.
Notepad is one solution.

Ernie Werbel

unread,
Aug 5, 2006, 11:42:02 PM8/5/06
to
JeffM wrote in message
<1154802921....@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com>...

>>I[...]came across a weird transistor.
>>It is in a TO-5 case but it has six long, gold-tinned lead wires[...]
>>There are no numbers printed on the case.
>>I was wondering if this is maybe two transistors in one case perhaps?
>>Ernie Werbel
>>
>Most likely. (They will be tightly matched)
>Their matched temperatures (because they are so close to each other)
>is another advantage
>
>Others have guessed "IC".
>Probably not: TO-99 has 8 legs and TO-100 has 10 legs.
>http://66.102.9.104/images?q=to-99+ic+-Up-to-99+-10-to-99+-50-to-99
>


Thanks for the link. This is pretty intriguing for me. I love vintage
electronics. I have not seen anything like this in my 10 years involvement
in electronics so I would have to imagine it is a vintage item.

>> __
>> |__|_
>> ||| |||
>> ||| |||
>>
>This is how ASCII art looks to most Usenet users
>when you try to do it in a proportional font:
>http://groups.google.com/group/alt.electronics/msg/6e4195e795dc425d?dmode=s
ource
>
>Do your drawings in a monospaced font like Courier
>then paste that into your post.
>Notepad is one solution.
>

Thanks, Jeff, for the tip. I am using Outlook Express, and set it to "text
only" but the only font that appears now it Times New Roman. Do you think
if I (can figure a way to) set it to display Courier that would fix the
problem? I have tried posting in certain fonts using HTML and that got
people annoyed. I am suprised that so many people cannot view HTML in
newsgroups. I am running Windows 3.1 and can do it with no problem so I
figured everyone else would be able to. Guess I was wrong.


Ernie Werbel

unread,
Aug 5, 2006, 11:45:52 PM8/5/06
to
jasen wrote in message <3358.44d4...@gonzo.homenet>...

>
>possibly a matched pair of transistors, or some sort of integrated circuit.
>
Hmm... a dual transistor could make sense. That would actually be quite
useful come to think of it and in that case I can't see why I don't see
these more often. This is the only time i have ever seen one in my life.

As for an IC, I guess anything is possible. An op-amp perhaps? Yes I do
think that could be feasable and utilize 6 pins:
1.) V+
2.) V-
3.) Inv. Input
4.) Non-Inv. Input
5.) Ouptut
6.) Shell as ground? Or maybe since it is a microcircuit, it can connect to
the grounding plane of the circuit?

Am I missing any pins here?


Ernie Werbel

unread,
Aug 5, 2006, 11:47:07 PM8/5/06
to
Nirodac wrote in message ...

>
>Could also be a voltage regulator

I suppose anything is possible. There are plenty of voltage regulators that
look like ordinaty TO-92 and TO-220 transistors. Perhaps it is a dual unit
even? Like having a 7805 and 7905 in one case or something like that?

This is quite a mystery to me!


Ernie Werbel

unread,
Aug 5, 2006, 11:47:43 PM8/5/06
to

sparc wrote in message
<1154801157.8...@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>...

>
>maybe its a metallised spider ....with 2 legs missing
>

Hehe well it doesn't look to have any leads broken off... (-:


JeffM

unread,
Aug 6, 2006, 3:40:49 AM8/6/06
to
>>This is how ASCII art looks to most Usenet users
>>when you try to do it in a proportional font:
>>http://groups.google.com/group/alt.electronics/msg/6e4195e795dc425d?dmode=source
>>
>>Do your drawings in a monospaced font like Courier
>> JeffM

>
>Do you think if I (can figure a way to) set it to display Courier
>that would fix the problem?
> Ernie Werbel
>
Yup.

>I am using Outlook Express, and set it to "text only"
>but the only font that appears now it Times New Roman.
>

I'm not interested enough in Outbreak Express to do much legwork.
You should be able to find an answer here:
http://groups.google.com/groups/search?q=Courier+Outlook-Express+ASCII+the-font

Have you considered trying a real newsreader?
http://www.google.com/search?q=gravity+forte+xnews+40tude+mozilla

>I have tried posting in certain fonts using HTML
>and that got people annoyed.
>

No surprize to me.

>I am suprised that so many people cannot view HTML in newsgroups.
>

It's not a matter of *can*. You don't know your history:
Usenet
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:VEjFh2CPNC4J:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenet+zzz+established-in-1980
existed **BEFORE** HTML and www --even before the Internet..
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:_kq6h6G9wzQJ:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet+zzz+1-January-1983

Usenet (outside the binaries groups) is a plain-text medium
--no formatting; no attachments.

That you are using a tool poorly suited to the task is another issue.
Micro"I've got a better idea"soft perverts every idea it touches
--including Usenet.

Ernie Werbel

unread,
Aug 6, 2006, 5:16:23 PM8/6/06
to

JeffM wrote in message
<1154850049.0...@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>...

Microsoft is excellent. Not sure what you use, but I wouldn't use any
third-party software. Who knows what you're getting along with it. As for the
plain text issue they can get with the times, and turn HTML on. It would make
it a lot eacier, and it would still display plain text.


JeffM

unread,
Aug 6, 2006, 7:05:45 PM8/6/06
to
>>>>I am using Outlook Express
>>>> Ernie Werbel

>>
>>Have you considered trying a real newsreader?
>>
>>Usenet (outside the binaries groups) is a plain-text medium
>>--no formatting; no attachments.
>>. . .

>>That you are using a tool poorly suited to the task is another issue.
>>Micro"I've got a better idea"soft perverts every idea it touches
>>--including Usenet.
>> JeffM
>
>Microsoft is excellent.
> Ernie Werbel
>
(I don't remember who said it first, but it's as true as ever.) Quote:
Microsoft: Producer of the world's least secure software.
Innovators of FUD, the BSoD, Palladium,
and the perpetual upgrade cycle.

Outbreak Express is second in crappiness only to Internet Exploder.

>I wouldn't use any third-party software.
>

Drivel.

>Who knows what you're getting along with it.
>

More drivel (even if I could parse what you wrote).

>As for the plain text issue they can get with the times, and turn HTML on.
>It would make it a lot eacier, and it would still display plain text.
>

Now you're just being pig-headed and ignorant.
Maybe it has something to do with reading comprehension
or never having worked to an established standard.

Ernie Werbel

unread,
Aug 6, 2006, 7:29:00 PM8/6/06
to
JeffM wrote in message
<1154905545.8...@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>...

>>>>>I am using Outlook Express
>>>>> Ernie Werbel
>>>
>>>Have you considered trying a real newsreader?
>>>
>>>Usenet (outside the binaries groups) is a plain-text medium
>>>--no formatting; no attachments.
>>>. . .
>>>That you are using a tool poorly suited to the task is another issue.
>>>Micro"I've got a better idea"soft perverts every idea it touches
>>>--including Usenet.
>>> JeffM
>>
>>Microsoft is excellent.
>> Ernie Werbel
>>
>(I don't remember who said it first, but it's as true as ever.) Quote:
>Microsoft: Producer of the world's least secure software.
>Innovators of FUD, the BSoD, Palladium,
>and the perpetual upgrade cycle.
>

I agree with you on that one, which is why I have stopped upgrading. I am using
Windows 3.1 and have maxxed out my system to my satisfaction.


>Outbreak Express is second in crappiness only to Internet Exploder.
>

You come off as being small-minded and ignorant. Why don't you back your
argument and say what you don't like about it?


>>I wouldn't use any third-party software.
>>
>Drivel.
>
>>Who knows what you're getting along with it.
>>
>More drivel (even if I could parse what you wrote).
>
>>As for the plain text issue they can get with the times, and turn HTML on.
>>It would make it a lot eacier, and it would still display plain text.
>>
>Now you're just being pig-headed and ignorant.
>Maybe it has something to do with reading comprehension
>or never having worked to an established standard.
>

I don't like it either but things change. Maybe you just can't keep up with the
times. Do you still drive to work in a horse and buggy? Come on, HTML has been
around for more than a decade.


JeffM

unread,
Aug 6, 2006, 10:15:37 PM8/6/06
to
>>Outbreak Express is second in crappiness only to Internet Exploder.
>> JeffM

>
>You come off as being small-minded and ignorant.
> Ernie Werbel
>
That's what a lot of ignorant people say
when they see someone who is informed and opinionated.

>Why don't you back your argument and say what you don't like about it?
>

The reasons are legion. Start with the fact that OE is a mail client
with a last-minute, hung-on-the-side Usenet hack.
(M$ doesn't think enough of OE to include it in Vista.)
Need more?
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/browse_frm/thread/3e63579968f70adc/3bac48809895403a?q=SUCKS+trivial+worth.every.penny+difficult+poor.design
http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.python/browse_frm/thread/b4d82899afb75538/88c279033a6828dc?q=Outlook-Express+real.news.reader+helping+zzz+skip.leading.hard.tabs
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.support.depression/browse_frm/thread/deabc672d1976c4/b20bb0a866d51d93?q=*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-worse-than-OE+*-*-*-*-surprised-and-delighted-at-*-*-real-news-readers-*+broken.sig.dash+incapable
http://groups.google.com/group/24hoursupport.helpdesk/browse_frm/thread/ad716622c7801b97/4dfac8434a53b7d5?q=outlook-express-is-the-the-only-known-app-with-this-*-*-flaw+zz-zz+qq-qq+*-express-gets-confused

>>>As for the plain text issue they can get with the times, and turn HTML on.
>>>It would make it a lot eacier, and it would still display plain text.

>>> Ernie Werbel


>>
>>Now you're just being pig-headed and ignorant.
>>Maybe it has something to do with reading comprehension
>>or never having worked to an established standard.
> >

>Maybe you just can't keep up with the times.
>

The times are just fine. The problem is pig-headed fools
who can't accept things that are just fine the way they are.

>Do you still drive to work in a horse and buggy?
>

If I did, I wouldn't try to take it out on the superslab.
Rockets exist--but I would get into a Model T that had one strapped to
it.
The word you are seeking is "appropriate".

>Come on, HTML has been around for more than a decade.
>

Usnet users have been getting by for decades
without a markup language.
If you don't like Usenet and it's minimum-bandwith nature,
there are lots of Web-based forums.
THAT is where HTML is appropriate.

Ernie Werbel

unread,
Aug 6, 2006, 10:42:37 PM8/6/06
to

JeffM wrote in message
<1154916937.8...@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>...

>>>Outbreak Express is second in crappiness only to Internet Exploder.
>>> JeffM
>>
>>You come off as being small-minded and ignorant.
>> Ernie Werbel
>>
>That's what a lot of ignorant people say
>when they see someone who is informed and opinionated.
>
>>Why don't you back your argument and say what you don't like about it?
>>
>The reasons are legion. Start with the fact that OE is a mail client
>with a last-minute, hung-on-the-side Usenet hack.
>(M$ doesn't think enough of OE to include it in Vista.)


Well that's a shame to hear, although I won't be getting Vista. 3.1 works well
enough for me.


>Need more?
>http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/browse_frm/th
read/3e63579968f70adc/3bac48809895403a?q=SUCKS+trivial+worth.every.penny+difficu
lt+poor.design
>http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.python/browse_frm/thread/b4d82899afb75
538/88c279033a6828dc?q=Outlook-Express+real.news.reader+helping+zzz+skip.leading
.hard.tabs
>http://groups.google.com/group/alt.support.depression/browse_frm/thread/deabc67
2d1976c4/b20bb0a866d51d93?q=*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-worse-than-OE+*-*-*-*-surprised-an
d-delighted-at-*-*-real-news-readers-*+broken.sig.dash+incapable
>http://groups.google.com/group/24hoursupport.helpdesk/browse_frm/thread/ad71662
2c7801b97/4dfac8434a53b7d5?q=outlook-express-is-the-the-only-known-app-with-this
-*-*-flaw+zz-zz+qq-qq+*-express-gets-confused
>

Ok I'll give you that. But I have to say it works fine for what I do. Email
and newsgroups. I do like the interface though.


>>>>As for the plain text issue they can get with the times, and turn HTML on.
>>>>It would make it a lot eacier, and it would still display plain text.
>>>> Ernie Werbel
>>>
>>>Now you're just being pig-headed and ignorant.
>>>Maybe it has something to do with reading comprehension
>>>or never having worked to an established standard.
>> >
>>Maybe you just can't keep up with the times.
>>
>The times are just fine. The problem is pig-headed fools
>who can't accept things that are just fine the way they are.
>

Not I. I am perfectly happy staying in 1994. That time was just as good as any
for me (and better because there was no Windows 9x).


>>Do you still drive to work in a horse and buggy?
>>
>If I did, I wouldn't try to take it out on the superslab.
>Rockets exist--but I would get into a Model T that had one strapped to
>it.
>The word you are seeking is "appropriate".
>
>>Come on, HTML has been around for more than a decade.
>>
>Usnet users have been getting by for decades
>without a markup language.
>If you don't like Usenet and it's minimum-bandwith nature,
>there are lots of Web-based forums.
>THAT is where HTML is appropriate.
>

Well then if that's what they want then who am I to argue? Hey it's all good.
By the way, I see our friend, the Chinese PCB spammer, is back.


0 new messages