SMD marking

M4in SOT-23

Marking codes are not standardised, and the same code is reused by unrelated makers for unrelated parts. Below is every part in our tables printed with it, and any printed with a code that is easy to misread as it, from the manufacturers' own marking tables.

6 parts are printed M4

Not sure which one you have?

Answer up to 4 quick questions and these 6 parts are ranked, with a meter test that settles it. It works on a dead part too.

MMBZ5259ASOT-23Zener diode, 3 pins, PanjitZener diode3 pinsPanjit
What it is
Zener diode
Maker
Panjit
Package
SOT-23
Pins
3
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range for the forward check, part lifted, red probe on the anode. A bench supply for the Zener voltage.
Working, it reads
About 0.6 to 0.8 V forward and open in reverse on the diode range. Its Zener voltage shows only on a supply: feed it through a resistor that sets about 5 mA, cathode to positive, read quickly, and it should hold near its rated voltage.
Dead, it reads
The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
Open both ways, forward too: failed open.
Holds well off its rated voltage on the supply test: drifted.
A soft knee, or a voltage that creeps on the supply test: leaky.
On the board:
On the board this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
A meter's diode range stops at about 2 to 3 V, so almost every Zener reads open in reverse on it, good or bad; a 3 V meter may just show a 2.4 or 2.7 V part. Above about 3 V the meter cannot tell a Zener from a plain diode.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor MMBZ5259A, opens in a new tab
MMBZ5259BSOT-23Zener diode, 3 pins, PanjitZener diode3 pinsPanjit
What it is
Zener diode
Maker
Panjit
Package
SOT-23
Pins
3
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range for the forward check, part lifted, red probe on the anode. A bench supply for the Zener voltage.
Working, it reads
About 0.6 to 0.8 V forward and open in reverse on the diode range. Its Zener voltage shows only on a supply: feed it through a resistor that sets about 5 mA, cathode to positive, read quickly, and it should hold near its rated voltage.
Dead, it reads
The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
Open both ways, forward too: failed open.
Holds well off its rated voltage on the supply test: drifted.
A soft knee, or a voltage that creeps on the supply test: leaky.
On the board:
On the board this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
A meter's diode range stops at about 2 to 3 V, so almost every Zener reads open in reverse on it, good or bad; a 3 V meter may just show a 2.4 or 2.7 V part. Above about 3 V the meter cannot tell a Zener from a plain diode.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor MMBZ5259B, opens in a new tab
MMBZ5259B-AUSOT-23Zener diode, 3 pins, PanjitZener diode3 pinsPanjit
What it is
Zener diode
Maker
Panjit
Package
SOT-23
Pins
3
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range for the forward check, part lifted, red probe on the anode. A bench supply for the Zener voltage.
Working, it reads
About 0.6 to 0.8 V forward and open in reverse on the diode range. Its Zener voltage shows only on a supply: feed it through a resistor that sets about 5 mA, cathode to positive, read quickly, and it should hold near its rated voltage.
Dead, it reads
The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
Open both ways, forward too: failed open.
Holds well off its rated voltage on the supply test: drifted.
A soft knee, or a voltage that creeps on the supply test: leaky.
On the board:
On the board this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
A meter's diode range stops at about 2 to 3 V, so almost every Zener reads open in reverse on it, good or bad; a 3 V meter may just show a 2.4 or 2.7 V part. Above about 3 V the meter cannot tell a Zener from a plain diode.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor MMBZ5259B-AU, opens in a new tab
MMFTN2362SOT-23MOSFET, 3 pins, DiotecMOSFET3 pinsDiotec
What it is
MOSFET
Maker
Diotec
Package
SOT-23
Pins
3
Details
Polarity Protection
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted. Test drain to source first, then short gate to source and test again.
Working, it reads
One way between drain and source reads about 0.4 to 0.9 V, the body diode, and the other way open. The gate reads open to both other pins.
Dead, it reads
Drain to source the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep, and still so after shorting gate to source: shorted. The classic failure.
The gate reads low to source or drain: gate shorted.
No body diode at all: failed open.
On the board:
On the board the gate usually has a resistor to the source, which reads as that resistor and is not a fault. Lift a leg to be sure.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
The diode range can charge the gate enough to turn the part on, and then drain to source reads near 0 both ways on a good part. Short gate to source and test again before you condemn it.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor MMFTN2362, opens in a new tab
PMV31XNSOT-23N-channel MOSFET, 3 pins, NexperiaN-channel MOSFET3 pinsNexperia
What it is
N-channel MOSFET
Maker
Nexperia
Package
SOT-23
Pins
3
Details
N-channel TrenchMOS FET
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted. Test drain to source first, then short gate to source and test again.
Working, it reads
Red probe on the source, black on the drain: about 0.4 to 0.9 V, the body diode. Open the other way. The gate reads open to both other pins, both ways.
Dead, it reads
Drain to source the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep, and still so after shorting gate to source: shorted. The classic failure.
The gate reads low to source or drain: gate shorted. Often all three pins end up shorted together.
No body diode at all: failed open.
On the board:
On the board the gate usually has a resistor to the source, so gate to source reads that resistor, which is not a fault. A drain short can be the load. Lift a leg to be sure.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
The diode range can charge the gate enough to turn the part on, and then drain to source reads near 0 both ways on a good part. Short gate to source and test again before you condemn it.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor PMV31XN, opens in a new tab
1 more part has no package on record. Nothing rules them out, so they stay.
- SN74LVC1G08DPWLogic gate, 5 pins, Texas InstrumentsLogic gate5 pinsTexas Instruments
  What it is
  Logic gate
  Maker
  Texas Instruments
  Package
  Not recorded
  Pins
  5
  Details
  Single 2-Input Positive-AND Gate
  Source
  From the manufacturer's datasheet
  Is it dead?
  Voltage with the board powered; ohms from each pin to ground with it off.
  Working, it reads
  Supply pin at its voltage and the output doing what the datasheet says. Readings between pins depend on the part.
  Dead, it reads
  A pin near 0 Ω to ground or to the supply pin where an identical part does not read that: failed short.
  Supply present, output stuck: failed, or its load has.
  On the board:
  A pin shorted to ground on the board can be anything on that net. Lift the pin to be sure.
  Compare:
  The surest reference is the same IC on a working board, measured pin by pin.
  Watch for:
  Its protection diodes can read like junctions between pins, even like a transistor. That proves nothing either way.
  A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
  Datasheetfor SN74LVC1G08DPW, opens in a new tab

3 more parts have codes that begin with M4

Codes that begin with M4

For a marking with its end worn or burnt off. Each one shows its full printed code.

all Panjit. What differs:

MMBT4401printed M4ASOT-23NPN transistor, 3 pinsNPN transistor3 pins
Printed M4A. Only the start matches what you typed, so this fits only if the rest of the marking is worn off.
What it is
NPN transistor
Maker
Panjit
Package
SOT-23
Pins
3
Details
40 V NPN small-signal transistor
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted or its base leg off the pad.
Working, it reads
Red probe on the base reads about 0.6 to 0.75 V to the emitter and to the collector, and open the other way round. Collector to emitter reads open both ways.
Dead, it reads
Collector to emitter the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep: shorted. The commonest failure.
The base the same both ways to another pin, near 0 V or a middling value: a shorted junction.
Only one junction reads, or none: a junction has failed open. It then looks like a diode.
A reading the wrong way round, where it should be open: leaky.
On the board:
On the board this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
A pair of diodes with a common pin reads just like a transistor, and some transistors carry a built-in diode or resistor. The datasheet says which.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor MMBT4401, opens in a new tab
MMBT4401-AUprinted M4ASOT-23Transistor, 3 pinsTransistor3 pins
Printed M4A. Only the start matches what you typed, so this fits only if the rest of the marking is worn off.
What it is
Transistor
Maker
Panjit
Package
SOT-23
Pins
3
Details
Bipolar transistor
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted or its base leg off the pad.
Working, it reads
From the base, one probe colour reads about 0.6 to 0.75 V to the emitter and to the collector, and open the other way round. Collector to emitter reads open both ways.
Dead, it reads
Collector to emitter the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep: shorted. The commonest failure.
The base the same both ways to another pin, near 0 V or a middling value: a shorted junction.
Only one junction reads, or none: a junction has failed open. It then looks like a diode.
A reading the wrong way round, where it should be open: leaky.
On the board:
On the board this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
A pair of diodes with a common pin reads just like a transistor, and some transistors carry a built-in diode or resistor. The datasheet says which.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor MMBT4401-AU, opens in a new tab
1 more part has no package on record. Nothing rules them out, so they stay.
- MMBT4401Wprinted M4ATransistorTransistorNot recorded
  Printed M4A. Only the start matches what you typed, so this fits only if the rest of the marking is worn off.
  What it is
  Transistor
  Maker
  Panjit
  Package
  Not recorded
  Pins
  Not recorded
  Details
  Bipolar transistor
  Source
  From the manufacturer's datasheet
  Is it dead?
  Diode range, part lifted or its base leg off the pad.
  Working, it reads
  From the base, one probe colour reads about 0.6 to 0.75 V to the emitter and to the collector, and open the other way round. Collector to emitter reads open both ways.
  Dead, it reads
  Collector to emitter the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep: shorted. The commonest failure.
  The base the same both ways to another pin, near 0 V or a middling value: a shorted junction.
  Only one junction reads, or none: a junction has failed open. It then looks like a diode.
  A reading the wrong way round, where it should be open: leaky.
  On the board:
  On the board this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
  Compare:
  If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
  Watch for:
  A pair of diodes with a common pin reads just like a transistor, and some transistors carry a built-in diode or resistor. The datasheet says which.
  A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
  Datasheetfor MMBT4401W, opens in a new tab

Open this in the search to correct a character or try another package.

6 parts are printed M4

Is it dead?

Is it dead?

Is it dead?

Is it dead?

Is it dead?

Is it dead?

Codes that begin with M4

Is it dead?

Is it dead?

Is it dead?