Roff
Well-Known Member
Any common transistor can handle 30mA base current. Audioguru and I suggested adding 47Ω in series, mostly for insurance. The diode is unnecessary.You might find a transistor that can stand 30 mA base current.
Or find a germanium transistor.
Another way may be to shunt the silicon b-e junction with a silicon diode and a small series resistor.
This diode will steal some current from the base at Vbe > 0.5v and you can adjust the diode series resistor to have the base current close to the abs. max. rating.