How to Identify NPN and PNP Transistor using Multimeter

Imagine from your component box, you have picked couple of Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs) and you don't know

whether they are NPN or PNP  type transistors... (Almost everyone would have face this problem)

In this post, we will discuss about how to find out the NPN and PNP transistor using multimeter...

Before proceeding further, let us refresh about how to identify the transistor terminals.
Identifying BJT Terminals:

We know that the Bipolar junction transistor has three terminals namely 

1. Emitter (E)

2. Base (B)

3. Collector(C)

The transistors are available with various packages in the market. Let us discuss about the TO-92 package.

Keep the transistor such that the flat surface facing towards you as shown in the below figure:

Now starting from left, mark like 1,2 and 3. They are respectively 

1. Emitter (E)

2. Base (B)

3. Collector(C)

The schematic symbol of the BJT is given below:

Identifying BJT Types:

Both NPN and PNP transistor looks similar in physical appearance. We can not differentiate by seeing them. We need a

multimeter to identify the type of BJT.

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Remember the following points:

1. The transistor internally has  two diodes (NPN ≡ N - P - N ≡ NP Junction + PN Junction and PNP ≡ P - N -

P ≡ PN Junction + NP Junction).

ie,Emitter to  base is one PN junction ( diode) and Base to collector another PN junction (diode).

2. In the diode mode, the multimeter will show the voltage when we keep the positive probe of the multimeter

to the anode of the diode and negative probe  to the cathode.

3. If the multimeter positive probe is connected to the cathode of the diode and the negative probe to the anode,

then it will not give any voltage (showing zero).

Steps to identify the NPN type transistor:

1. Keep the Multimeter in the Diode mode.

2. Keep the positive probe to the center pin (Base) of the transistor. 

3. Touch the negative probe to the pin-1 (Emitter). You will see some voltage in the multimeter.

4. Similarly touch the negative probe to the pin-3 (collector) with respect to the pin-2. You will see some

voltage in the multimeter.

5. It will ensure that it is a NPN transistor. The logic behind this is, in NPN transistor

Emitter (E) - N type material - Equivalent to cathode of the diode

Base (B) - P type material - Equivalent to anode of the diode

Collector(C) - N type material - Equivalent to cathode of the diode

6. If the multimeter positive probe is connected to anode and negative probe is connected to cathode, then it

will show voltage. If the connections are interchanged it will not show any value.
Steps to identify the PNP type transistor:

1. Keep the Multimeter in the Diode mode.

2. Keep the positive probe to the pin-1 (Emitter) of the transistor. 

3. Touch the negative probe to the center pin (Base). You will see some voltage in the multimeter.

4. Similarly touch the negative probe to the center pin (Base) with respect to the pin-3 (collector). You will see

some voltage in the multimeter.

5. It will ensure that it is a PNP transistor. The logic behind this is, in PNP transistor 

Emitter (E) - P type material - Equivalent to anode of the diode

Base (B) - N type material - Equivalent to cathode of the diode

Collector(C) - P type material - Equivalent to anode of the diode

6. If the multimeter positive probe is connected to anode and negative probe is connected to cathode, then it

will show voltage. If the connections are interchanged it will not show any value.

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 How to test transistor using Multimeter
In this post let us discuss about how to test transistor using multimeter.  ie whether the BJT is good or failed. Before
proceeding further it is good to refresh about basics of BJT. If you are not sure whether the given transistor is NPN type or
PNP type. You have to first confirm that. Please read the post How to Identify NPN and PNP Transistor using Multimeter

First keep the multimeter in the Ohmmeter/Continuity mode.

1. If the transistor is an NPN, connect the positive multimeter lead to the Base and the negative to the Collector

terminal.

The multimeter should indicate continuity, the reading should be about same as reading obtained when the

individual diode was tested across its terminals.

2. With the positive multimeter lead still connected to the Base terminal of the transistor, connect the negative

lead to the Emitter terminal. The multimeter should again indicate a forward diode junction.

Note: If the multimeter does not indicate continuity between the base-collector or the base-emitter, the

transistor is open.

3. Connect the negative multimeter lead to the Base and the positive lead to the Collector. The multimeter

should indicate infinity or no connectivity.

4. With the negative multimeter lead connected to the Base, reconnect the positive lead to the Emitter. There

should, again, be no indication  of continuity.

Note: If a very high resistance is indicated by the multimeter, the transistor is leaky but it may still operate

in the circuit. If a very low resistance is seen, the transistor is shorted.

5. To test a PNP transistor, reverse the polarity of the multimeter leads and repeat the test. When the negative

multimeter lead is connected to the Base, a forward diode junction should be indicated when the positive

lead is connected to the Collector or Emitter.

If the positive multimeter lead is connected to the Base of a PNP transistor, no continuity should be

indicated when the negative lead is connected to the Collector or the Emitter.

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