Transistor and diode tester

While making a circuit, the first thing to be considered is parts especially active component
or semiconductor. Here is a simple circuit to test either the transistor or diode is good or
faulty.
Circuit description of transistor and diode
tester
IC
1
LM555 is timer IC work as heart of the circuit transistor and diode tester and is used as
multivibrator. 70 Hz frequency is obtained from output of IC
1
with the help of R
1
, R
2
and
C
1
together. For transistor testing switch SW
2
must be in off mode. In the absence of testing
transistor both LED used in circuit flash but when a pnp-npn transistor connect to the test
terminal B, C, and E from the output of IC
1
. After connecting transistor voltage drop across
one of the LEDs become lower than threshold voltage which cause stop glowing of one LED,
this mean transistor is good.
It seen that faulty transistor have either a short-circuited or a broken collector-emitter
junction. If the transistor is short-circuited, none of these LEDs glow, but if the transistor is
open circuit both LEDs glow.

Diode Testing
Push SW
2
on and the diode under test connected between C and E terminals. One glowing
led indicate a good diode, while all other indicates point to fault diode.

PARTS LIST
Resistors (all -watt, 5% Carbon)
R
1
= 1 K
R
2
= 100 K
R
3
= 680
R
4
= 68
Capacitor
C
1
= 0.1 F
Semiconductors
IC
1
= NE555 timer IC
D
1
D
4
= 1N4148
D
5
, D
6
= Zener diode 5.1 Volt
D
7
, D
8
= LEDs of different color
Miscellaneous
SW
1
, SW
2
= switch
9V battery for power supply