OC44's "tested" and "cheap" on EBAY !!!-UPDATE-

[barret77]

oh my god, the little metal tab indicates the emitter?

@!$@!#$!$#@^%^ !!!     

I thought that since the red dot marks the collector on all oc44, the metal tab indicated the collector as well...

That's why the circuit wasn't working! I was thinking that I needed a different boost to bias it properly... dang!

Have I destroyed mine oc44 by this dumb mistake? Can the emitter/collector inversion damage the transistor?

[MartyMart]

oh my god, the little metal tab indicates the emitter?

@!$@!#$!$#@^%^ !!!  :icon_eek:  :icon_eek: 
I thought that since the red dot marks the collector on all oc44, the metal tab indicated the collector as well...
That's why the circuit wasn't working! I was thinking that I needed a different boost to bias it properly... dang!
Have I destroyed mine oc44 by this dumb mistake? Can the emitter/collector inversion damage the transistor?

As far as I understand .... NO 
I have reversed a LOT of trannies and have only damaged 1, which was a 2N7000 FET anyway !
Quite often they will "work" the wrong way around, but just sound quiet/biased badly.
Just dont leave it in there for toooo long ..  !!
I use sockets 100% of the time, and you are WAY more likely to damage them with too much
HEAT ... if not socketted/soldering direct

Marty.

[barret77]

pheew...

I'll try again tonight... desperate moments here

thanks Marty

[chrishopkins]

I tested mine by plugging it into my multimeter and testing the HFE.

Got that worked out - on with the breadboarding!