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Testing A Transistor With A Digital Multimeter - Inst Tools

A digital multimeter can be used to test transistors for open or shorted junctions. When testing a good transistor, applying the leads in forward bias will produce a reading between 0.6-0.8V, while reverse bias will produce an "OL" reading. A defective transistor will produce an "OL" reading for both forward and reverse bias if the junction is open, or a 0V reading if the junction is shorted. While some multimeters have special diode or transistor test functions, the ohms range can also be used to check for high or low resistance readings that indicate proper or defective junction operation.

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315 views5 pages

Testing A Transistor With A Digital Multimeter - Inst Tools

A digital multimeter can be used to test transistors for open or shorted junctions. When testing a good transistor, applying the leads in forward bias will produce a reading between 0.6-0.8V, while reverse bias will produce an "OL" reading. A defective transistor will produce an "OL" reading for both forward and reverse bias if the junction is open, or a 0V reading if the junction is shorted. While some multimeters have special diode or transistor test functions, the ohms range can also be used to check for high or low resistance readings that indicate proper or defective junction operation.

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shafiee
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Testing a Transistor with a Digital Multimeter

Several faults that can occur in the circuit and the accompanying symptoms are
illustrated in Below Figure. Symptoms are shown in terms of measured voltages that
are incorrect. If a transistor circuit is not operating correctly, it is a good idea to verify
that VCC and  ground are connected and operating. A simple check at the top of the
collector resistor and at the collector itself will quickly ascertain if VCC is present and if
the transistor is conducting normally or is in cutoff or saturation.

If it is in cutoff, the collector voltage will equal VCC; if it is in saturation, the collector


voltage will be near zero. Another faulty measurement can be seen if there is an open
in the collector path. The term floating point refers to a point in the circuit that is not
electrically connected to ground or a “solid” voltage. Normally, very small and
sometimes fluctuating voltages in the mV to low mV range are generally measured at
floating points. The faults in Below Figure are typical but do not represent all possible
faults that may occur.
Testing a Transistor with a DMM

A digital multimeter can be used as a fast and simple way to check a transistor for
open or  shorted junctions. For this test, you can view the transistor as two diodes
connected as  shown in Below Figure for both npn and pnp transistors. The base-
collector junction is one diode and the base-emitter junction is the other.

A good diode will show an extremely high resistance (or open) with reverse bias and a
very low resistance with forward bias. A defective open diode will show an extremely
high resistance (or open) for both forward and reverse bias. A defective shorted
or resistive diode will show zero or a very low resistance for both forward and reverse
bias.  An open diode is the most common type of failure. Since the transistor pn
junctions are, in effect diodes, the same basic characteristics apply.

The DMM Diode Test Position

Many digital multimeters (DMMs) have a diode test position that provides a convenient
way to test a transistor. A typical DMM, as shown in Below  Figure, has a small diode
symbol to mark the position of the function switch. When set to diode test, the meter
provides an internal voltage sufficient to forward-bias and reverse-bias a transistor
junction.

When the Transistor Is Not Defective

In Figure (a), the red (positive) lead of the  meter is connected to the base of an npn
transistor and the black (negative) lead is connected to the emitter to forward-bias the
base-emitter junction. If the junction is good, you will get a  reading of between
approximately 0.6 V and 0.8 V, with 0.7 V being typical for forward bias. In Figure (b),
the leads are switched to reverse-bias the base-emitter junction, as  shown. If the
transistor is working properly, you will typically get an OL indication. The process just
described is repeated for the base-collector junction as shown in Figure (c) and (d). For
a pnp transistor, the polarity of the meter leads are reversed for each test.

When the Transistor Is Defective

When a transistor has failed with an open junction or internal connection, you get an
open circuit voltage reading (OL) for both the forward-bias  and the reverse-bias
conditions for that junction, as illustrated in Figure (a). If a junction  is shorted, the
meter reads 0 V in both forward- and reverse-bias tests, as indicated in part (b). Some
DMMs provide a test socket on their front panel for testing a transistor for the
hFE  (βDC) value. If the transistor is inserted improperly in the socket or if it is not
functioning properly due to a faulty junction or internal connection, a typical meter will
flash a 1 or display  a 0. If a value of βDC  within the normal range for the specific
transistor is displayed, the device is functioning properly. The normal range of βDC can
be determined from the datasheet.

Checking a Transistor with the OHMs Function

DMMs that do not have a diode test position or an hFE socket can be used to test a
transistor for open or shorted junctions by setting the function switch to an OHMs
range. For the forward-bias check of a good transistor  pn junction, you will get a
resistance reading that can vary depending on the meter’s internal  battery. Many
DMMs do not have sufficient voltage on the OHMs range to fully forward-bias  a
junction, and you may get a reading of from several hundred to several thousand
ohms.

For the reverse-bias check of a good transistor, you will get an out-of-range
indication  on most DMMs because the reverse resistance is too high to measure. An
out-of-range indication may be a flashing 1 or a display of dashes, depending on the
particular DMM.

Even though you may not get accurate forward and reverse resistance readings on
a DMM, the relative readings are sufficient to indicate a properly functioning transistor
PN junction. The out-of-range indication shows that the reverse resistance is very high,
as you expect. The reading of a few hundred to a few thousand ohms for forward bias
indicates that the forward resistance is small compared to the reverse resistance, as you
expect.

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