Transitor with pins in different positions than usual, why?

[Lac]

I'm trying to learn myself how transistors work now, and I have gotten so far that everywhere that i read it is stated that when you hold the transistor with the flat side towards yourself, the pins are collector - base - emitter, from left ti right. So when i started to play around with some other NPN transistors I had laying around I could't get them to work, as stated in the lessons i had read.

I thought they were broken or something, so I tried some other transistors, but with the same results, they acted wierd. Then I made a search at the chosen transistors and found out to my suprprize that the pins were in an different order!!

Emitter - Collector - Base (when the flat side is facing you)

I tested the transistors again, and now everything is working as expected. But why are the pins at some transistors in a different order? isn't there enough that there are both PNP and NPN?

I noticed that BC182 transistors were "right", while BC182L transistors were "wrong". what does the "L" means?

Cheers! Hope you can help me out here.
Lac.

 

[chemelec]

Not all transistors have the same pinout. Rarely, But Sometimes not even for the same transistor made by different manufacturers.

Most common arrangements are ECB & BCE.

Same Goes for Fets, Not always the same pinout.

 

[zevon8]

There are several variations of that transitor, the " L " have a pinout of ECB ( fairchild's do anyeways ) and the non-L is CBE. Many times its just to make different pin-outs available for ease of use during circuit board layout. Demand creates a supply. Sometimes there are minor variations in the characteristics of a part with different sub-letters after the main part number also, but its usually just pin-out or case changes.

 

[vaineo]

If your unsure the datasheet almost always tells you the orientation of the pins.

 

[grrr_arrghh]

ahmen to whoever said alway check the data sheet.

i once read that european/yankee parts were in the order BCE, and jap parts were ECB. Obviously there are some exceptions to this. I don't know wheather its true or not.

 

[Styx]

mm The parts I have a CBE it makes it really easy to put such a part in.

It could be by providing many a pin-out you can easily bodge somthing in