Need replacement advise for KA3525A IC

[HomeExperiement]

Hi!

I need to replace KA3525A IC because I damaged mine with shorted potentiometer. I have question: I also has KH52AD marking on it. Is this also important? I can find KA3525A from aliexpress but KH52AD doesn't seem to show this unit. And when I search for KA3525A, also SG3525A seems to show up in search results quite often. Can they both be used interchangeably is it important that it is KA3525A (like is one just newer model than other or are the 2 different things)?

 

[Baluncore]

The KA3525A is a common SMPS controller IC in a 16 pin DIP.
KH52AD may be a manufacturing plant and date code.
The SG3525A has the same pin-out, internal block diagram and reference voltage, so I expect it is a direct replacement.

 

[HomeExperiement]

Ok, tnx. I also noticed that SG3525A is better documented. What do you exactly mean by direct replacement?
Also, which one should I get? SG3525A seemed to have a bit longer feature list so it looks like newer but I am not 100% sure. In other words replacing KA3525A with SG3525A should be fine?

 

[DaveE]

The 3525A is an very common (and old) SMPS control IC. The prefix letters usually just refer to the manufacturer. They are very likely to be compatible, certainly in pin-out and function. Unfortunately, the only way you'll know for sure is to compare the data sheets. Assuming no one's life depends on it, I would just replace it with SG3525A.

BTW the SG stands for Silicon General, the original company (long gone, now part of TI) that originally designed this IC in the early 1980's. This is the most common part number for this IC amongst generic manufacturers.

 

[Baluncore]

What do you exactly mean by direct replacement?

The masks used to make the silicon chip may be different from different manufacturers, but the specifications will be equivalent to, or better than, the original product. Two manufacturers may merge, or may agree to share some masks to become a second source for an identical product.

The “quantity of specifications” will be reduced as more manufacturers begin to manufacture direct equivalents. The best data sheets and application notes are usually from the original manufacturer, since it was in their interest to help engineers introduce the new product.