Disadvantages
The main disadvantage of this style of case is the lack of heat sinking.
- Transistors and ICs of these types cannot handle as much power as higher-power equivalents, such as the TO-220 and can burn out quickly if they dissipate excessive power.
- There in no standard pinout for the TO-92. The American BJT's use the E-B-C pinout while their Japanese counterparts use the E-C-B pinout and some RF devices use the B-E-C pinout.
More often than not, however, the disadvantages concerning accidental destruction are greatly outweighed by the small size and low cost of producing these units.
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