ECG, SK, and NTE Type Semiconductor
Components
| ECG
semiconductors were originally intended for the replacement, hobbyist, and experimental
markets and in time found applications in industrial repair and maintenance departments.
Sylvania was an early manufacturer of semiconductors and they evolved the ECG series
concept. Other manufacturers using the same idea were Motorola, G.E., and Raytheon. The
ECG line of semiconductors was intended to minimize replacement parts inventory for repair
and maintenance departments. An ECG replacement directory, which cross referenced as many
as 200,000 JEDEC and manufacturer’s semiconductor part numbers was developed and they
all crossed to ECG types which would replace them.
The various types of these semiconductor replacements is quite comprehensive and addition
to transistors, diodes, and ICs, the list also includes triacs, SCRs, unijunction
transistors(UJT); programmable unijunction transistors(PUT), silicon bilateral
switches(SBS), Silicon unilateral switches(SUS), Silicon assymetrical switches (SAS), and
bilateral trigger diodes (DIACS).
Subsequentially, JFETS, MOSFETS, IGBT,
and other semiconductor devices were added including high voltage devices, i.e.
multipliers, rectifiers, dividers, modules, etc. ECG diodes range from general purpose,
(both silicon and germanium) to various microwave devices, pin diodes and varistors. In
addition, transient voltage suppressors, quartz crystals, linear and digital integrated
circuits have been added as well as opto-devices to the ECG line.
Microprocessors, memories, and IC
interfaces have also been added to the line recently as well as surface mounted
components. The list is quite complete and it appears a continuing effort is made to
supply state of the art parts. Most of these components are readily available at the many
ECG electronic distributors. As the saying goes, "imitation is the sincerest form of
flattery",and so there have been and continue to be many ECG imitators. Some of these
are NTE, SK originally RCA and now Thomson Products, General Electric with their
"GE" series, and Motorola and their "HEP" line of products. All these
manufacturers supply comprehensive cross references to other manufacturers part numbers as
well as J.E.D.E.C. part numbers. Needless to say they cross- referenced to each others
part numbers also.
There are many suppliers in this genre,
including lesser known suppliers such as Raytheon, Mallory, Sprague, and Workman. Some are
no longer in the business. For example, there is no indication that the Motorola
"HEP" series or the "GE" series is still maintained, however it is
reassuring to know the American Microsemiconductor maintains and plans to continue to
maintain a market in this entire area of over 200,000 semiconductor parts, and over
800,000 manufacturers part numbers. Ours is the largest supplier semiconductor database in
the world and we can cross reference parts supplied by all the above manufacturers and
suppliers. We plan to continue to do so far into the 21st Century.
Many of these suppliers have fallen by
the wayside, for example there is no indication that GE and Motorola have continued their
respective GE and HEP replacement lines. If you are having trouble obtaining ECG, NTE,
SK(RCA), HEP, and/or WORKMAN replacement parts, consider American Microsemiconductor and
their extensive database of equivalents. |
P. O. Box 104,
133 Kings Road, Madison, New Jersey 07940, Phone: (973) 377-9566, Fax: (973) 377-3078
Questions, Comments, Suggestions - Email To: info@americanmicrosemi.com |
