My sympathies, it's a terrible situation we also sometimes find
ourselves in.  We are in it now with RS-232 interface ICs that were a
standard for over 15 years.  No pin for pin replacements so many
boards will have to be redesigned when we run out of stock.  It's
worse for us as we need Industrial rated parts (-40 to +85C) and more
and more vendors are discontinuing them and not even making available
the MIL version (the end of the Cold War has had a lot of fallout!).

We sometimes use a distributor here in the USA called America II -
they charge what amounts to highway robbery but sometimes they can get
the parts.  www.americaII.com

I am not familar with the SOD6 footprint - what is it?  We use
transorb zeners and use leaded types only.  The take more room BUT as
they take the brunt of external stress do on occasion blow and need to
be replaced and we found this to be a faster way to repair units (and
by being up in the air a bit to disappate energy better.

Regards,

Bob Landman
H&L Instruments L.L.C.
Electro-Optics for Industry & Science
34 Post Road, PO Box 580
North Hampton, NH 03862
tel(603)964-1818  fax(603)964-8881
http://www.hlinstruments.com

----- Original Message -----
From: Matthew Lamkin <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: December 14, 1999 9:36 AM
Subject: [DC] Search for obsolete components SM4T36CA Transils ?


: HI there everyone, I've been pulling my hair out for the last few
days,
: as
: we have several products designed to use a ST/SGS-Thompson part that
: appears to have
: gone obsolete since we last purchased any.
:
: Only we didn't know & are now searching for any of these that are
going
: spare anywhere in the world.
:
: The part is a "Transil"  Bi-directional surge protector type
SM4T36CA.
: Any equivalent parts that have been suggested have a different
footprint
: (this part uses SOD6.).
:
: We have searched the www & exhausted all our suppliers, so now I'm
: reduced to begging on the streets (well TechNet at least!).
:
: Can anyone point me in the right direction?
:
: Tia
: Matthew Lamkin
: Printed Circuitboard Draughtsman
: Protec Fire Detection PLC.
: Protec Hse, Churchill way,
: Nelson, Lancashire.
: England UK.
: Tel 01282 717171
: Fax 01282 717273
: Email [log in to unmask]
: