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    Testing/Checking/Troubleshooting Transistors: How To Check A MOSFET Using A Digital Multimeter

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    Ira Cervo
    This document provides instructions for testing transistors using a digital multimeter. It describes how to check N-channel and P-channel MOSFETs by setting the multimeter to diode range and touching the probes between the source, drain and gate pins. An open reading between source and drain and a continuity reading when briefly touching gate indicates the MOSFET is good. Similar steps are described for testing JFETs and an IRF540 MOSFET. A simple circuit for testing MOSFETs using an LED is also shown.

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    Testing/Checking/Troubleshooting Transistors: How To Check A MOSFET Using A Digital Multimeter

    Uploaded by

    Ira Cervo
    2K views8 pages
    This document provides instructions for testing transistors using a digital multimeter. It describes how to check N-channel and P-channel MOSFETs by setting the multimeter to diode range and touching the probes between the source, drain and gate pins. An open reading between source and drain and a continuity reading when briefly touching gate indicates the MOSFET is good. Similar steps are described for testing JFETs and an IRF540 MOSFET. A simple circuit for testing MOSFETs using an LED is also shown.

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    This document provides instructions for testing transistors using a digital multimeter. It describes how to check N-channel and P-channel MOSFETs by setting the multimeter to diode range and touching the probes between the source, drain and gate pins. An open reading between source and drain and a continuity reading when briefly touching gate indicates the MOSFET is good. Similar steps are described for testing JFETs and an IRF540 MOSFET. A simple circuit for testing MOSFETs using an LED is also shown.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    2K views8 pages

    Testing/Checking/Troubleshooting Transistors: How To Check A MOSFET Using A Digital Multimeter

    Uploaded by

    Ira Cervo
    This document provides instructions for testing transistors using a digital multimeter. It describes how to check N-channel and P-channel MOSFETs by setting the multimeter to diode range and touching the probes between the source, drain and gate pins. An open reading between source and drain and a continuity reading when briefly touching gate indicates the MOSFET is good. Similar steps are described for testing JFETs and an IRF540 MOSFET. A simple circuit for testing MOSFETs using an LED is also shown.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 8

    Electronics Repair and Troubleshooting

    ECE 401 / Class ECE 4-A


    Lesson/Topic : 3g-2
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Testing/Checking/Troubleshooting
    Transistors
    How to Check a MOSFET Using a Digital Multimeter
    Testing MOSFETs using DMM through a set of steps, which will show
    you how to accurately learn the good or faulty condition of a MOSFET:

    MOSFETs are outstanding devices when it comes to amplifying or


    switching of various kinds of loads. Though transistors are also largely
    applied for the above purposes, both the counterparts are hugely
    different with their characteristics.

    The amazing efficiency of MOSFETs are to a great extent neutralized


    by one drawback associated with these devices. It is the involved
    complexity which makes these components difficult to understand and
    configure.

    Even the simplest of operations like testing a good MOSFET from a bad
    one is never an easy task especially for the beginners in the field.

    Though MOSFETs usually require sophisticated equipment for checking


    their conditions, a simple way using a multimeter is also considered
    effective most of the time for checking them.

    We take the example of two types of N-channel MOSFETs, the K1058


    and the IRFP240 and see how these MOSFETS can be tested using an
    ordinary digital multimeter through slightly different procedures:
    How to Check N-Channel MOSFETs
    1) Set the DMM to the diode range.

    2) Keep the MOSFET on a dry wooden table on its metal tab, with the
    printed side facing you and leads pointed towards you.

    3) With a screwdriver or meter probe, short the gate and drain pins
    of the MOSFET. This will initially keep the internal capacitance of the
    device completely discharged.

    4) Now touch the meter black probe to source and the red probe
    to drain of the device.

    5)You should see an "open" circuit indication on the meter.

    6) Now keeping the black probe touched to the source, lift the red
    probe from drain and touch it to the gate of the MOSFET
    momentarily, and bring it back to the drain of the MOSFET.

    7) This time the meter will show a circuit "continuity”.

    The results from the point 5 and 7 confirms that the MOSFET is OK.

    Repeat this procedure many times for proper confirmation.


    Note : For repeating the above procedure each time, you will need
    to reset the MOSFET by shorting the gate and the drain leads using
    meter probe as explained earlier.

    How to Check P-Channel MOSFETs


    For P-channel the testing steps will be as per 1,2,3,4 and 5, but the
    polarities of the meter will change. Here's how to do it.

    1) Set the DMM to the diode range.

    2) Fix the MOSFET on a dry wooden table on its metal tab, with the
    printed side facing you and leads pointed towards you.

    3) With any conductor, short the gate and drain pins of the P-
    MOSFET. This will initially enable the internal capacitance of the device
    to discharge, which is essential for the testing process.

    4) Now touch the meter RED probe to source and the BLACK probe
    to drain of the device.

    5) You will find an "open" circuit reading on the meter.

    6) Next, without moving the RED probe from the source, remove the
    black probe from drain and touch it to the gate of the MOSFET for a
    second, and bring it back to the drain of the MOSFET.

    7) This time the meter will show a continuity or a low value on the
    meter.

    That's it, this will confirm your MOSFET is alright, and without any
    problems. Any other form of reading will indicate a faulty MOSFET.

    How to Test an IRF540 MOSFET

    The procedures are exactly similar to the above explained N-channel


    MOSFET testing procedures. The following video clip shows and proves
    how it may be implemented using an ordinary multi-meter:
    https://youtu.be/AVNbDzaM0V4
    Simple MOSFET Tester Jig Circuit

    If you are not convenient with the above mentioned testing procedure
    using a multimeter, then you can quickly construct the following jig for
    checking any N-channel MOSFET efficiently :

    Once you make this jig, you can plug-in the relevant pins of the
    MOSFET into the given G, D, S sockets. After this you just have to press
    the push button for confirming the MOSFET condition.

    If the LED glows only on pressing of the button, then your


    MOSFET is fine, any other results will indicate a bad or
    defective MOSFET.
    The cathode of the LED will go to the drain side or drain socket.

    For P-Channel MOSFET you could simply modify the design as per
    the following image (note the LED terminal connection ):
    ================================
    How to Check a JFET Using a Digital Multimeter
    Testing a JFET with a multimeter might seem to be a relatively easy
    task, seeing as how it has only one PN junction to test: either
    measured between gate and source, or between gate and drain.

    Testing Continuity of an N-channel JFET


    Testing continuity through the drain-source channel is another matter,
    though. Remember, how a stored charge across the capacitance of the
    gate-channel PN junction could hold the JFET in a pinched-off state
    without any external voltage being applied across it? This can occur
    even when you’re holding the JFET in your hand to test it!
    Consequently, any meter reading of continuity through that channel
    will be unpredictable, since you don’t necessarily know if a charge is
    being stored by the gate-channel junction. Of course, if you know
    beforehand which terminals on the device are the gate, source, and
    drain, you may connect a jumper wire between gate and source
    to eliminate any stored charge and then proceed to test source-
    drain continuity with no problem. However, if you don’t know which
    terminals are which, the unpredictability of the source-drain connection
    may confuse your determination of terminal identity.
    Strategy on Testing a JFET

    A good strategy to follow when testing a JFET is to insert the pins of


    the transistor into anti-static foam (the material used to ship and
    store static-sensitive electronic components) just prior to testing.
    The conductivity of the foam will make a resistive connection between
    all terminals of the transistor when it is inserted. This connection will
    ensure that all residual voltage built up across the gate-channel PN
    junction will be neutralized, thus “opening up” the channel for an
    accurate meter test of source-to-drain continuity.
    Since the JFET channel is a single, uninterrupted piece of
    semiconductor material, there is usually no difference between the
    source and drain terminals. A resistance check from source to drain
    should yield the same value as a check from drain to source. This
    resistance should be relatively low (a few hundred ohms at most) when
    the gate-source PN junction voltage is zero. By applying a reverse-bias
    voltage between gate and source, pinch-off of the channel should be
    apparent by an increased resistance reading on the meter.
    ----------------------------------------------------

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