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Transistors and Their Use As Switches in Circuits

Transistors are electronic switches that allow electric current to flow between two contacts when a small current arrives at a third connection. Their invention in 1947 led to more compact electronics like phones, radios, and TVs. Transistors come in different packages and types, with the common NPN type showing which leg connects to the negative side of a circuit. The central base connection requires a small current to do the switching, while the collector connects to the positive side. A simple circuit is shown using a transistor to light an LED when two contacts are joined, with a resistor protecting the LED from too much current. This basic circuit could form the basis of a simple soil moisture detector.

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Mohit Khanna
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68 views2 pages

Transistors and Their Use As Switches in Circuits

Transistors are electronic switches that allow electric current to flow between two contacts when a small current arrives at a third connection. Their invention in 1947 led to more compact electronics like phones, radios, and TVs. Transistors come in different packages and types, with the common NPN type showing which leg connects to the negative side of a circuit. The central base connection requires a small current to do the switching, while the collector connects to the positive side. A simple circuit is shown using a transistor to light an LED when two contacts are joined, with a resistor protecting the LED from too much current. This basic circuit could form the basis of a simple soil moisture detector.

Uploaded by

Mohit Khanna
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Transistors and their use as switches in circuits. Basic elctronic guide for students - Electronic Produc

14th November 2010

As simple as it is to be turn a switch on with one a simple flick or push it is often more convenient to have a switch operate automatically. Transistors are exactly that simple electronic switches that can be made to join up two of their contacts by allowing a small flow of electric current to arrive at a third connection. Their invention in 1947 dramatically altered the potential for the creation of more compact, less power hungry circuits and has led to the availability of infinitely more mobile products like phones, radios and TVs. Transistors can be packaged in different metal or plastic cases and also come in several different types - one common type is shown here and the small tag on this npn type transistor shows which leg is to be connected to the negative side of the circuit. That leaves two other connections that need identifying. The central one is called the base and it is this that requires the small current to do the switching. The final connection is called the collector and needs to be connected to the positive side of the circuit.

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When working with different types of transistor it is important to correctly identify the legs. On circuit diagrams the transistor is shown as in the diagram
In this simple circuit on the left you should be able to see that joining points A and B will allow a current to flow to the transistor. What would you expect to happen then ? From what has already been said the other two connections would join as if switched on and this would allow the LED shown in this circuit to light up. There is a limiting resistor in series with the LED as a protection preventing too much current damaging the LED itself.

So now we have a basic circuit that will work by simply joining the two points, to what use could the circuit be put? Well a simple water detector could be made with two steel prongs being joined to the two contacts A and B with those then pushed into the soil of a plant pot. If the soil was quite wet the LED would glow green perhaps If it went out then the soil would need watering. A fair idea but one that could be improved. What changes would you make for a water detector that might make it a lot more useful ?

Check out the Year 9 task.

What would you say would be the best output device ? ... A Buzzer or a Constant coloured light ... or a flashing light ? What might the implications be if the plant were to dry-up during the night ? Would it be possible to adapt the design to make a better product that could take this into account ?
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Transistors and their use as switches in circuits. Basic elctronic guide for students - Electronic Produc
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