End Of Life Cycle NTE2973

[Trout]

I was looking at grabbing a few more NTE2973's today and discovered mouser now lists them as LC,
Lifecycle: NRND: Not recommended for new designs.

Does anyone know of a direct replacement yet?
I would imagine they will be around a bit longer having been a large production part, but it might be wise to locate a newer version?

[XgamerGt03]

From the specs of the 2973 I take it you are looking at using it for some sort of VVR?

If so there are a few options, and it all depends on your amp really. The NTE2973 is over spec'd, from what I recall being said purposefully so that VVR works in a wide variety of amplifiers, and so you have a bit of freedom in picking a new part.

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/STM ... fJuYkGE%3d
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/STM ... QAE8Lqg%3d
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/STM ... xXhpd2M%3d

From what I see from the data sheets of these parts they should all work out well. I would probably use the 80Z just because of the higher voltage rating, but I don't think the 90Z would be necessary.

All that being said I would think that the 90z is very close in specs to the 2973.

If anyone else has a reason these wouldn't work I would like to hear that though.

[Trout]

The STW15NK90Z does look pretty appealing, I like the idea of the 900V rating.

Would this just drop into a VVR unit or do other things need to be swapped?

[UR12]

Just to clarify things, that is Mouser's end of life designation
and not NTE 's take on it. According to my distrubutor
NTE has no plans at this time to
quit supplying the 2973. NTE doesn't manufacture the part
but rebrands a transistor manufactured by someone else
with their own part number. I guess if their source of transistors
to rebrand dried up then they would quit supplying the part
but I am assured that isn't the case. My info comes from
my Mouser rep and my NTE national distributor.

Mouser on the other hand has listed the part as not for new
designs because they look at the NTE part as being an obsolete
part and not prudent for a designer to use if he were to need
millions of them for production. I have enough to last me quite some time
but if you are looking for a substitute I am sure there are
plenty out there that will work. Just make sure you do your
homework on the spec side as you have to pay attention to
More than just the voltage and current rating to make the VVR
function properly.

[XgamerGt03]

Unless I'm overlooking something it looked to me like it should be a pretty good replacement. The on resistance of the FETs was along the lines of 550 mOhm where as the NTE is something like 630mOhms. Vds break down, Vgs breakdown, etc all looked to be about the same or very close.

The capacitances are the only places I saw real differences, and those shouldn't affect VVR much should they? The threshold voltage was slightly higher for the STM, but this is another place that it shouldn't matter too terribly much if it is a volt or so different should it?

[UR12]

Unless I'm overlooking something it looked to me like it should be a pretty good replacement. The on resistance of the FETs was along the lines of 550 mOhm where as the NTE is something like 630mOhms. Vds break down, Vgs breakdown, etc all looked to be about the same or very close.

The capacitances are the only places I saw real differences, and those shouldn't affect VVR much should they? The threshold voltage was slightly higher for the STM, but this is another place that it shouldn't matter too terribly much if it is a volt or so different should it?

I haven't really taken the time to look at the particular part number you listed so I can't comment on that. I wasn't directing my post to your reply only. I was just making a blanket statement for anyone trying to sub the part to look at more than just the voltage and current rating.

[XgamerGt03]

I haven't really taken the time to look at the particular part number you listed so I can't comment on that. I wasn't directing my post to your reply only. I was just making a blanket statement for anyone trying to sub the part to look at more than just the voltage and current rating.

I understand it wasn't mean to be at mine particularly, but since I saw you commented I wanted to see if you had and advice for the part. I'm guessing that ON resistance, the limiting values and other things like that are more important than the capacitance ratings.

[UR12]

I haven't really taken the time to look at the particular part number you listed so I can't comment on that. I wasn't directing my post to your reply only. I was just making a blanket statement for anyone trying to sub the part to look at more than just the voltage and current rating.

I understand it wasn't mean to be at mine particularly, but since I saw you commented I wanted to see if you had and advice for the part. I'm guessing that ON resistance, the limiting values and other things like that are more important than the capacitance ratings.

Just last month you posted in this thread where I tried to offer my advice

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... e&start=15

There are at least 10 threads on this forum alone in regards to what to look for in regards to picking a mosfet and how the VVR works as far as the current limiting is concerned. Please take some time and use the search function on this site and you should be able to find the info you are looking for without me having to restate it yet one more time.

[XgamerGt03]

Just last month you posted in this thread where I tried to offer my advice

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... e&start=15

There are at least 10 threads on this forum alone in regards to what to look for in regards to picking a mosfet and how the VVR works as far as the current limiting is concerned. Please take some time and use the search function on this site and you should be able to find the info you are looking for without me having to restate it yet one more time.

I missed where you discussed the on resistance in that thread. Sorry to waste your time.

[Trout]

Thank you for clarifying the status on the NTE part Dana!

Mousers "Lifecycle: NRND: Not recommended for new designs" comment grabbed my attention.

Since it appears that the supply will be fairly good, I will just grab a few more of the NTE parts.