Testing Transistor

Transistors are solid - state devices similar in some way to the diodes you have
studied. Transistors are more complex and can be used in many more ways.
They are very important and can be found in almost all modern electronic
equipment. The name transistor it derived from “transresistor”, meaning that it
changes resistance. Unlike a diode , a transistor has three leads. The three
transistor leads are designated as Base (B), Collector (C), and Emitter (E).

There are two configurations for a common transistor: NPN and PNP as shown in
Figure 1. Notice the difference symbols for NPN and PNP transistor. The emitter
arrow points away from the transistor body for an NPN and toward the transistor
body for an NPN and toward the transistor body for PNP.

Fig 1: The circuit symbols for two transistor type a) NPN b) PNP

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Transistors Function

The main operational characteristics of a transistors is that a small voltage

placed on one of the three leads can control a large amount of current flow
through the other two leads. This enables a transistor to perform two basic
functions:
i. A transistor can act as an electronic switch, turning current flow ON and
OFF.
ii. A transistor can amplify a signal, making it larger in amplitude.

Since the transistor is capable of amplifying a signal, it is said to be an active

components. Devices such as resistor, capacitors, inductors and diodes are not
able to amplify and are therefore known as passive components.

Either type transistor, NPN or PNP, can perform essentially the same function in
an electronic circuit. The main difference between an NPN and a PNP transistor
in a circuit is the direction in which electrons flow between emitter and collector.
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Transistor Heat Sink

The heat generated by current flowing between the collector and emitter
junctions of a transistor causes its temperature to rise. This heat must be
conducted away from the transistor otherwise the temperature rise may be high
enough to irreparably damage the P-N junctions inside the transistor. Power
transistor produce a lot of heat, and are therefore usually mounted to a piece of
aluminium with fins, called a heat sink.

The sink draws heat away from the transistor, allowing the transistor to handle
more power that if there were no heat sink. Low power signal transistor , do not
normally require heat sinking. Some transistors have a metal body thus mica
sheet has used to prevent the body from touching the beat sink.
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Transistor Failure
Transistor can fail in a number of different ways. Transistor have forward and
reverse current and voltage rating like diodes do. Exceeding either rating can
destroy a transistor. A bad transistor may short circuit from the “base” to the
“collector” or from the “base” to the “emitter”. Sometimes a transistor is damaged
so badly that short circuits develop between all three of the leads. A short circuit
often allows a large circuit to flow, and causes the faulty transistor to heat up.
The transistors also can developed open circuit between “base” to “collector” to
“emitter”.

The first step in identifying a bad transistor is to check for signs of overheating, A
bad transistor may appear to be burn or melted. When the equipment is switched
off, you can touch the transistor to see if it feels unusually hot. The amount of
heat you feel should be proportional to the size of transistors heat sink. If the the
part has a large heat sink you can expect it to be too hot but not until the extent
of burning the tand or fingers. If the transistor has no heat sink, yet is scary hot,
you can suspect a problem. “DO NOT TOUCH A TRANSISTOR IF IT IS PART
OF THE CIRCUITRY THAT CARRIES 40VAC”’ Always switch off the equipment
before touching any components.

Transistor Replacement
If for some reason, you can’t got the exact replacement refer to one of the
transistor substitution guides, and try to identify a “near replacement for your part
even though the two parts are not very similar. The important parameters are:
● Voltage
● Ampere
● Wattage
The replacement part should have a voltage ampere and wattage rating equal to
or higher than the original. The best is to get an exact part number for transistor
it’s worth the trouble

TRANSISTOR SPECIFICATION

Diodes are numbered 1N for example 1N4148, 1N4007, 1N5408 and etc.
Transistors are numbered 2N for example 2N3904, 2N3906 and etc. The first
digit in the number of junctions. However, Japanese transistors have different
types numbers. The following designation are generally used.
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Japanese European Type Type Typical Example
transistors
number

2SA A PNP, High 2SA733=A733

frequency

2SB B PNP, Low 2SB861=B861

frequency

2SC C NPN, High 2SC5048=C5048

frequency

2SD D NPN, Low 2SD2125=D2125

frequency

2SJ J P-Channel FET 2SJ306=J306

2SK K N-Channel FET 2SK792=J792

Note that S is used indicate a semiconductor. If you found a transistor with the
part number of C945, you will immediately know about that it is a NPN transistor.
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● Whatever replacing output transistor nut-bolt should not be too tight or too
loose.
 ● Horizontal output transistor, with integrated diode should be replaced with
the same type of transistor.

Transistor Testing and Identifying the Leads

A transistor can be checked out of circuit with any of the many different transistor
testers on the market, The suspected transistor can be check out of the circuit
with resistance measurement, (Ohms range) from the analogue meter. Use
Ohmmeter scale to detect a leaky, open or shorted transistor. I do not encourage
testing transistor with digital meter as I’ve encountered many times that a
transistor test good with digital meter but failed using the analogue meter.

Checking transistor with an analogue multimeter

An analogue multimeter can be use to perform a basic test on a transistor, the

diagram in figure below will help you to identify the base, collector and emitter
leads for commonly used transistor. You should refer to the transistor data
guidebook if you are in doubt about the connections of a transistor. But if you are
about to use a transistor of an unknown type, i.e, NPN or PNP, The following
simple test will give the answer. It will also allow you to check transistor if it is
leaky, open or shorted.

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The diagram in Figure 2 assumes you are testing an unknown type of transistor.
Set your meter to the lowest ohm’s range i.e, Rx1​Ω, From the six combination of
test result you will know the transistor i belonging to which type.

1.Connect the black probe of the multimeter to one of the transistor leads, and
connect the red probe to any of the other leads.
2.If two low readings are found for one connection of the black probe ( test no 1
& 2),while each of the others two position gives two high readings (test no 3, 4, 5
and 6), then the transistor is NPN type.
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3.The pin where the black probe is connected to showed two low reading when
the red probes connected to the other two leads shows high reading ids the
“Base”, in the above case pin 1 is the “base”

Your test probe replacement must be reversed in order to check for PNP type of
transistor as shown in Figure 3.
1.Connect the red probe of the multimeter to one of the transistor leads and
connect the black probe to any of the other leads.

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2.If two readings are found for one connection of the red probe (Test no 1 & 2),
while each of the other two position gives two high readings (Test no 3,4,5 and
6), then the transistor is PNP type.

3. The pin where the red probe is connect to showed two low reading when the
black probes connected to other two leads shows high reading is the “Base”, in
the above case pin 1 is the “Base’

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Now you should determined which lead is the “emitter” and which is the
“collector”. Assuming you are checking an NPN type of transistor and you
already know that lead number 1 in the base, and are you about determine which
lead (lead 2 or 3) in the collector. First, used your multimeter ohms range.
Connect the test probe according to the diagram shows in figure 4.
Figure 4: Identifying the collector lead of an NPN transistor.

1. Look for the right ohm reading (Test no 1) and see which lead the black
probe is connected to.

2. From Figure 4 the black probe is connected to lead 2 and this lead is the
“Collector” and lead 3 is the “Emitter”.

3. Some transistor will show to high ohms reading and if it is the case you
should use your fingers to touch on the base (first spin) and the middle pin
while you are still holding the probes on the transistor middle and the third
pin. Assuming while your finger touching the base and the middle pin, the
pointer show some resistance then looks at the probe. If it is the black
probe on the

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Middle pin then the middle pin is the “Collector”, If middle pin is the collector,
the third pin must be the “Emitter”. If the red probe is on the middle pin, touching
your finger between the base and the middle pin, the pointer will not move at all!
In other words, if you test a NPN transistor, look for the black probe and if you
test PNP transistor look for the red probe. If there is no response from the meter
(pointer won’t move) even after you have use your finger to touch on the pains,
then the transistor has developed an open circuit.

Note: For checking PNP transistor, perform the same test by reversing the test
probe.

These tests also give some medication of a transistor’s condition. If the transistor
does not check out as described above, there may be something has gone
wrong with the part. For example, if the emitter, collector junction shows a low

resistance in both directions at x 10k Ohms, the transistor is shorted.

For many of you, this probably seems like a lot of transistors information to
absorbs. Checking transistor is not as easy as checking the two leads devices
like the resistor, capacitor, diode and etc. in reality, this is only the surface of a
fairly deep subject. Experimenting with a few transistors and a multimeter as you
go back through the materials is
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an excellent way to gain greater understanding of how to accurately check
transistors.

You can purchase several types of general purpose replacement transistors for
less than RM 1.00 each from many electronics suppliers. Get a few NPN,s and a
couple of PNP,s grab your multimeter, and see for yourself. With some actual
hands-on activity, it won’t take you long to become confident performing a basic
transistor test.

If you have badget you may buy specialized transistors tester whereyu clip 3 of
the tester wires to the three pins of any transistors. After analyzing it will prompt
to you which leg is the base, collector and emitter and also it will tell you if the
transistor is good, leaky or completely shorted.

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