How to Test a Transistor & a Diode with a

Multimeter
It is very quick and easy to learn how to test a transistor and a
diode with a analogue mutimeter - normally this is good enough for
most applications.

Multimeter Tutorial Includes:

Test meter basics     Analogue multimeter     DMM digital multimeter     How a DMM works     DMM
accuracy & resolution     How to buy best digital multimeter     How to use a multimeter    Voltage
measurement     Current measurements     More current measurement techniques     Resistance
measurements     Diode & transistor test     Fault finding transistor circuits    

While many digital multimeters these days have a specific capability for testing diodes and
sometimes transistors, not all do, especially the older analogue multimeters that are still in
widespread use. However it is still quite easy to perform a simple go / no-go test using the simplest
of equipment.

This form of testing is able to detect whether transistor or a diode is operational, and although it
cannot provide details of the parameters, this is seldom a problem because these components will
have been tested at manufacture and it is comparatively rare for the performance to fall to a point
where they do not operate in a circuit. Most failures are catastrophic, rendering the component
completely inoperable. These simple multimeter tests are able to detect these problems very quickly
and easily.

How to test a diode with a multimeter

The basic diode test is very simple to perform. Just two tests are needed with the multimeter to
ensure that the diode works satisfactorily:

... the band on the diode package represents the

cathode....
The method of testing a diode with an analogue meter is quite straightforward.

Step by step instructions:

1. Set the meter to its ohms range - any range should do, but the middle ohms range if several are
available is probably best.
2. Connect the cathode terminal of the diode to the terminal marked positive on the multimeter, and
the anode to the negative or common terminal.
3. Set the meter to read ohms, and a "lowish" reading should be obtained.
4. Reverse the connections.
5. This time a high resistance reading should be obtained.
Notes:
 In step 3 above the actual reading will depend upon a number of factors. The main thing is that
the meter deflects, possibly to half way or more. The variation depends on many items including
the battery in the meter, and the range used. The main point to note is that the meter deflects
significantly.
 When checked in the reverse direction, silicon diodes are unlikely to show any meter deflection
whatsoever. Germanium ones that have a much higher level of reverse leakage current may
easily show a small deflection if the meter is set to a high ohms range.
This simple analogue multimeter test of a diode is very useful because it gives a very quick
indication of whether the diode is basically operational. It cannot, however, test more complicated
parameters such as the reverse breakdown, etc.

Diode test using a multimeter

How to test a transistor with a multimeter
The diode test using an analogue multimeter can be extended to give a simple and straightforward
confidence check for bipolar transistors. Again the test using a multimeter only provides a
confidence check that the device has not blown, but it is still very useful.

The test relies on the fact that a transistor can be considered to comprise of two back to back
diodes, and by performing the diode test between the base and collector and the base and emitter of
the transistor using an analogue multimeter, the basic integrity of the transistor can be ascertained.
 Transistor equivalent circuit with diodes for multimeter test.
It should be noted that a transistor cannot be functionally replicated using two separate diodes
because the operation of the transistor depends upon the base which is the junction of the two
diodes, being one physical layer, and also very thin.

Step by step instructions:

The instructions are given primarily for an NPN transistor as these are the most common types in
use. The variations are shown for PNP varieties - these are indicated in brackets (.. .. ..):

1. Set the meter to its ohms range - any range should do, but the middle ohms range if several are
available is probably best.
2. Connect the base terminal of the transistor to the terminal marked positive (usually coloured red)
on the multimeter
3. Connect the terminal marked negative or common (usually coloured black) to the collector and
measure the resistance. It should read open circuit (there should be a deflection for a PNP
transistor).
4. With the terminal marked positive still connected to the base, repeat the measurement with the
positive terminal connected to the emitter. The reading should again read open circuit (the
multimeter should deflect for a PNP transistor).
5. Now reverse the connection to the base of the transistor, this time connecting the negative or
common (black) terminal of the analogue test meter to the base of the transistor.
6. Connect the terminal marked positive, first to the collector and measure the resistance. Then take
it to the emitter. In both cases the meter should deflect (indicate open circuit for a PNP transistor).
7. It is next necessary to connect the meter negative or common to the collector and meter positive
to the emitter. Check that the meter reads open circuit. (The meter should read open circuit for
both NPN and PNP types.
8. Now reverse the connections so that the meter negative or common is connected to the emitter
and meter positive to the collector. Check again that the meter reads open circuit.
9. If the transistor passes all the tests then it is basically functional and all the junctions are intact.
Notes:
 The final checks from collector to emitter ensure that the base has not been "blown through". It is
sometimes possible that there is still a diode present between collector and base and the emitter
and the base, but the collector and emitter are shorted together.
 As with the germanium diode, the reverse readings for germanium transistors will not be as good
as for silicon transistors. A small level of current is allowable as this results from the presence of
minority carriers in the germanium.

Analogue multimeter overview

While most of the multimeters on sale today are digital ones, there are nevertheless many analogue
meters still in use. While they may not be the latest in technology, they are still ideal for many uses,
and can be used easily for measurements such as the ones above.
Although the tests detailed above are aimed at analogue meters, similar ones can be undertaken
with digital multimeters (DMMs)

Testing the transistor

Remove the transistor from the circuit for accurate test results.

Step 1: (Base to Emitter)

Hook the positive lead from the multimeter to the to the BASE (B) of the transistor.
Hook the negative meter lead to the EMITTER (E) of the transistor. For an good NPN
transistor, the meter should show a voltage drop between 0.45V and 0.9V. If you are
testing PNP transistor, you should see “OL” (Over Limit).

Step 2: (Base to Collector)

Keep  the postitive lead on the BASE (B) and place the negative lead to the COLLECTOR
(C).

For an good NPN transistor, the meter should show a voltage drop between 0.45V and
0.9V. If you are testing PNP transistor, you should see "OL" (Over Limit).

Step 3: (Emitter to Base)

Hook the positive lead from the multimeter to the to the EMITTER (E) of the transistor.
Hook the negative meter lead to the BASE (B) of the transistor.

For an good NPN transistor, you should see “OL” (Over Limit).If you are testing PNP
transistor, the meter should show a voltage drop between 0.45V and 0.9V.

Step 4: (Collector to Base)

Hook the positive lead from the multimeter to the to the COLLECTOR (C) of the
transistor. Hook the negative meter lead to the BASE (B) of the transistor.
For an good NPN transistor, you should see “OL” (Over Limit).If you are testing PNP
transistor, the meter should show a voltage drop between 0.45V and 0.9V.

Step 5: (Collector to Emitter)

Hook the postitive meter lead to the COLLECTOR (C) and the negative meter lead to the
EMITTER (E) – A good NPN or PNP transistor will read "OL"/Over Limit on the meter.
Swap the leads (Positive to Emitter and Negative to Collector) – Once again, a good
NPN or PNP transistor should read “OL”.

If your bipolar transistor measures contrary to these steps, consider it to be bad.

You may also be able to use the voltage drop to determine which lead is the emitter on
an unmarked transistor, as the emitter-base junction typically has a slightly higher
voltage drop than the collector-base junction.

Remember: This test only verifies that the transistor is not shorted or open, it does not
guarantee that the transistor is operating within its designed parameters. It should only
be used to help decide if you need "replace" or "move on to the next component". This
test works on bipolar transistors only – you need to use a different method for testing
FETs.