Finding Faults on Transistors

Fig. 6.1 Testing BJTs and JFETs.

Once the transistor pins have been identified, or at least the base, if the fault is not already
obvious you can use the method in Fig. 6.1 to identify a fault on any bipolar transistor that is
not connected in a circuit.
Use a multimeter switched to a range suitable for testing transistor junctions, as discussed on
the Meters for transistor testing page. Follow the numbered sequence of tests in Fig. 6.1 to
find out if the transistor is good or faulty.
Before you begin these tests, make sure you know which of your meter leads is
positive and which is negative. Remember that analogue meters may have the polarity
of their red and black meter leads reversed when measuring resistance.

Test for short circuit between collector and emitter.

1. Test the resistance between collector and emitter.

2.Then reverse the positive and negative meter connections and test again.
If the meter reads zero or a few ohms in tests 1 and 2, there is a short circuit between
collector and emitter and the transistor is faulty. If both readings are infinity, continue
with test 3.

Test forward resistance of base−emitter and base−collector junctions.

3. Now connect the positive meter lead to the base, and test the resistance of both junctions
by connecting the negative meter probe to one of the other two pins. It doesn't really matter
whether this is the collector or the emitter, this test is the same for any junction.

4. Now leave the positive lead on the base, and move the negative lead to the other untested
(collector or emitter) pin, and measure the resistance of this junction.
For tests 3 and 4 you should get a typical forward resistance reading of around 500 to
1K ohms in both cases. A reading of zero ohms indicates a short circuit and a faulty
transistor. In this case, as a double check, continue with tests 5 and 6.
Test reverse resistance of base−emitter and base−collector junctions.
5. Now connect the negative lead of your meter to the base and the positive lead to another
pin as shown at 5 in Fig. 6.1 above.

6. Finally connect the positive probe to the other untested pin as shown at 6 in Fig. 6.1 above.
In tests 5 and 6 both junctions should read infinity. If all of these six tests are ok you
have a good transistor. If one or more of the tests has failed, so has the transistor!