Transistors

Transistors are one of the most important electronic components

Transistors are basically Collector
ELECTRONIC SWITCHES.
They allow a current to flow
down through the Collector and Base
Emitter but only when voltage is
applied to the Base.
The “Threshold” voltage that
makes the transistor turn on is…
Emitter

0.7 Volts
The Base Current (Ib) only has to
be very small but that can switch
a MUCH LARGER Collector
Current (Ic) Collector

This is called AMPLIFICATION Base Emitter

 Transistor Current
In a transistor… ALL THE CURRENT goes out of the
EMITTER
So the current goes in the collector and the base and it
all goes out of the emitter.

Ie = Ib + Ic C

where Ie = emitter current (amps) B

Ib = base current (amps),
Ic = collector current (amps)
E
Example
Find the value of the emitter current (Ie) flowing through a
transistor if the base current is 0.02A and the collector current
is 0.5A
Ie = Ib + Ic
= 0.02 + 0.5
= 0.52 amps
 Transistor Gain
Transistors MULTIPLY the base current to switch
a larger collector current
The formula for calculating a transistor's gain is
C

hFE = Ic/Ib B
where hFE = gain,
Ic = collector current (amps)
Ib = base current (amps) E
Example:
A transistor has a current of 0.5 amps flowing through the
collector and 0.02 amps though the base.
Determine the value of the current gain.
hFE = Ic/Ib
= 0.5/0.02
= 25 Note that gain has no units because it is a ratio.
Darlington Pairs
When driving HIGH CURRENT
LOADS like a MOTOR, we need
a LOT of current (I).
If one transistor does not have
enough gain to drive the large
current, we can use a
DARLINGTON PAIR

hFE (Darlington) = hFE1 x hFE2

i.e. The Gain of a Darlington Pair is equal to the gain
of the 2 individual transistors, multiplied together
 Relays
Another way of
driving High Current
Loads without even
having to worry about
Gain is by using a
RELAY.
A relay is not like a transistor, it is
a PHYSICAL SWITCH with
moving metal parts.
When current is passed through
the coil, the switch clicks across
to allow current to flow
 Relays
By using a
relay we have
INFINITE
GAIN

However we
can also use a
completely
separate
power supply
for the switch
and the coil