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Transistor as Switch
FEBRUARY 18, 2015 BY ADMINISTRATOR — 8 COMMENTS

Table of Contents 
1. Introduction
2. Operating Modes of Transistors
2.1. Active Mode
2.2. Cuto� Mode
2.3. Saturation Mode
3. Transistor as a Switch
3.1. NPN Transistor as a Switch
3.2. Example of NPN Transistor as a Switch
3.3. PNP Transistor as a Switch
3.4. Example of PNP Transistor as a Switch
4. Common Practical Examples of Transistor as a Switch
4.1. Transistor to Switch the LED
4.2. Transistor to Operate the Relay
4.3. Transistor to Drive the Motor

Introduction
As one of the signi�cant semiconductor devices, transistor has found use in enormous
electronic applications such as embedded systems, digital circuits and control systems. In
both digital and analog domains transistors are extensively used for di�erent application
usage like ampli�cation, logic operations, switching and so on. This article mainly concentrates
and gives a brief explanation of transistor application as a switch.

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The Bipolar Junction Transistor or simply BJT is a three layer, three terminal and two junction
semiconductor device. Almost in many of the applications these transistors are used for two
basic functions such as switching and ampli�cation.

The name bipolar indicates that two types of charge carriers are involved in the working of a
BJT. These two charge carriers are holes and electrons where holes are positive charge
carriers and electrons are negative charge carriers.

The transistor has three regions, namely base, emitter and collector. The emitter is a heavily
doped terminal and emits electrons into the base. Base terminal is lightly doped and passes
the emitter-injected electrons on to the collector. The collector terminal is intermediately
doped and collects electrons from base. This collector is large as compared with other two
regions so it dissipates more heat.

BJTs are of two types NPN and PNP, both functioning is same but di�er in terms of biasing and
power supply polarity. In PNP transistor, between two P- type materials N- type material is
sandwiched whereas in case of NPN transistor P- type material sandwiched between two N-
type materials. These two transistors can be con�gured into di�erent types like common
emitter, common collector and common base con�gurations.

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Operating Modes of Transistors

Depends on the biasing conditions like forward or reverse, transistors have three major modes
of operation namely cuto�, active and saturation regions.

Active Mode
In this mode transistor is generally used as a current ampli�er. In active mode, two junctions
are di�erently biased that means emitter-base junction is forward biased whereas

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collector-base junction is reverse biased. In this mode current �ows between emitter and
collector and amount of current �ow is proportional to the base current.

Cuto� Mode
In this mode, both collector base junction and emitter base junction are reverse biased. This in
turn not allows the current to �ow from collector to emitter when the base-emitter voltage is
low. In this mode device is completely switched o� as the result the current �owing through
the device is zero.

Saturation Mode
In this mode of operation, both the emitter base and collector base junctions are  forward
biased. Current �ows freely from collector to emitter when the base-emitter voltage is high. In
this mode device is fully switched ON.

The below �gure shows the output characteristics of a BJT Transistor. In the below �gure cuto�

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region has the operating conditions as zero collector output current, zero base input current
and maximum collector voltage. These parameters causes a large depletion layer which
further doesn’t allow current to �ow through the transistor. Therefore, the transistor is
completely in OFF condition.

Similarly, in the saturation region, a transistor is biased in such a way that maximum base
current is applied that results maximum collector current and minimum collector-emitter
voltage. This causes the depletion layer to become small and to allow maximum current �ow
through the transistor. Therefore, the transistor is fully in ON condition.

Hence, from the above discussion, we can say that transistors can be made to work as
ON/OFF solid state switch by operating transistor in cuto� and saturation regions. This type of
switching application is used for controlling motors, lamp loads, solenoids, etc.

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Transistor as a Switch
A transistor is used for switching operation for opening or closing of a circuit. This type solid
state switching o�ers signi�cant reliability and lower cost as compared with conventional
relays. Both NPN and PNP transistors can be used as switches. Some of the applications use a
power transistor as switching device, at that time it may necessary to use another signal level
transistor to drive the high power transistor.

NPN Transistor as a Switch

Based on the voltage applied at the base terminal of a transistor switching operation is
performed. When a su�cient voltage  (Vin > 0.7 V) is applied between the base and emitter,
collector to emitter voltage is approximately equal to 0. Therefore, the transistor acts as a
short circuit. The collector current Vcc/Rc �ows through the transistor.

Similarly, when no voltage or zero voltage is applied at the input, transistor operates in cuto�
region and acts as an open circuit. In this type of switching connection, load (here LED lamp) is
connected to the switching output with a reference point. Thus, when the transistor is
switched ON, current will �ow from source to ground through the load.

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Example of NPN Transistor as a Switch

Consider the below example where base resistance Rb = 50 k ohm, collector resistance Rc =
0.7k ohm, Vcc is 5V and the beta value is 125. At the base input a signal varying between 0 and
5V is given so we are going to see the output at the collector by varying the Vi at two states
that is 0 and 5V as shown in �gure.

Ic = Vcc/Rc when VCE = 0

Ic = 5V/0.7k ohm

Ic = 7.1 mA

Base Current Ib = Ic / β

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Ib = 7.1 mA/125

Ib = 56.8 µA

From the above calculations, the maximum or peak value of the collector current in the circuit
is 7.1mA when Vce is equal to zero. And the correspond base current to which collector current
�ows is 56.8µA. So, it is clear that when the base current is increased beyond the 56.8 micro
ampere then the transistor comes into the saturation mode.

Consider the case when zero volt is applied at the input. This causes the base current zero and
as the emitter is grounded, emitter base junction is not forward biased. Therefore, the
transistor is in OFF condition and the collector output voltage is equal to 5V.

When Vi = 0V, Ib = 0 and Ic =0,

Vc = Vcc – (IcRc)

= 5V – 0

= 5V

Consider that input voltage applied is 5 volts, then the base current can be determined by
applying Kirchho�’s voltage law.

When Vi = 5V

Ib = (Vi – Vbe) / Rb

For silicon transistor Vbe = 0.7 V

Thus, Ib = (5V – 0.7V)/ 50K ohm

= 86 µA which is greater than 56.8 µA

Therefore the base current is greater than 56.8 micro ampere current, the transistor will be
driven to saturation that is fully ON when 5V is applied at the input. Thus the output at the
collector becomes approximately zero.

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PNP Transistor as a Switch

PNP transistor works same as NPN for a switching operation, but the current �ows from the
base. This type of switching is used for negative ground con�gurations. For the PNP transistor,
the base terminal is always negatively biased with respect to the emitter. In this switching,
base current �ows when the base voltage is more negative. Simply a low voltage or more
negative voltage makes transistor to short circuit otherwise it will be open circuited or high
impedance state.

In this connection, load is connected to the transistor switching output with a reference point.
When the transistor is turned ON, current �ows from the source through transistor to the load
and �nally to the ground.

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Example of PNP Transistor as a Switch

Similar to the NPN transistor switch circuit, PNP circuit input is also base, but the emitter is
connected to constant voltage and the collector is connected to ground through the load as
shown in �gure.

In this con�guration base is always biased negatively with respect to the emitter by
connecting the base at negative side and the emitter at the positive side of the input supply.
So the voltage VBE is negative and the emitter supply voltage with respect to the Collector is
positive ( VCE positive).

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Therefore, for the conduction of transistor emitter must be more positive with respect to both
collector and base. In other words base must be more negative with respect to the emitter.
           

For calculating the base and collector currents following expressions are used.

Ic = Ie – Ib
Ic = β. Ib
I b = Ic / β
Consider the above example, that the load requires 100 milli ampere current and the transistor
has the beta value of 100. Then the current required for the saturation of the transistor is

Minimum base current = collector current / β

                               = 100 mA / 100

              = 1mA

Therefore, when the base current is 1 mA, the transistor will be fully ON. But practically 30
percent of more current is required for guaranteed saturation of transistor. So, in this example
the base current required is 1.3mA.

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Common Practical Examples of Transistor as a Switch

Transistor to Switch the LED
As discussed earlier that the transistor can be used as a switch. The schematic below shows
how a transistor is used to switch the Light Emitting Diode (LED).

When the switch at the base terminal is open, no current �ows through the base so the
transistor is in the cuto� state. Therefore, the circuit acts as open-circuit and the LED
becomes OFF.
When the switch is closed, base current starts �owing through the transistor and then
drives into saturation results to LED become ON.
Resistors are placed to limit the currents through the base and LED. It is also possible to
vary the intensity of LED by varying the resistance in the base current path.

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Transistor to Operate the Relay

It is also possible to control the relay operation using a transistor. With a small circuit
arrangement of a transistor able to energise the coil of the relay so that the external load
connected to it is controlled.

Consider the below circuit to know the operation of a transistor to energize the relay coil.
The input applied at the base causes to drive the transistor into saturation region, which
further results the circuit becomes short circuit. So the relay coil gets energized and relay
contacts get operated.
In inductive loads, particularly switching of motors and inductors, sudden removal of
power can keep a high potential across the coil. This high voltage can cause
considerable damage to the rest circuit. Therefore, we have to use the diode in parallel
with inductive load to protect the circuit from induced voltages of the inductive load.

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Transistor to Drive the Motor

A transistor can also used to drive and regulate the speed of the DC motor in a
unidirectional way by switching the transistor in regular intervals of time as shown in the
below �gure.
As mentioned in above, the DC motor is also an inductive load so we have to place a
freewheeling diode across it to protect the circuit.
By switching the transistor in cuto� and saturation regions, we can turn ON and OFF the
motor repeatedly.

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It is also possible to regulate the speed of the motor from standstill to full speed by
switching the transistor at variable frequencies. We can get the switching frequency from
control device or IC like microcontroller.

Have you got the clear idea of how a transistor can be used as a switch? We acknowledge that
the furnished information clari�es the entire switching concept with relevant images and
examples. Further any doubts, suggestions and comments on this post you can write below.

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FILED UNDER: TRANSISTORS

Comments

Adelelmo Fialho says

MAY 9, 2017 AT 1:20 PM

Great tutorial. Thanks a lot.

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Reply

Ravindra says
MAY 11, 2017 AT 12:50 AM

Very nice explaination. It can be better if you use animated ckt.

Reply

rimpy says
JUNE 28, 2017 AT 11:37 PM

thanx a lot …

Reply

Ddddd says
FEBRUARY 5, 2018 AT 11:32 AM

Reply

Sai kumar says

AUGUST 3, 2017 AT 9:25 PM

Very good explanation.thank you

Reply

ruby says
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 AT 12:47 PM

sir can u help for biasing of mosfet. i need notes for this topic.

Reply

Mosmi says
JANUARY 4, 2018 AT 10:52 AM

11 of 16 07/04/2018 06:53 PM
Working of Transistor as a Switch - NPN and PNP Tra... https://www.electronicshub.org/transistor-as-switch/

So..proper and exact explanation… Thanks a lot sr

Reply

Arjun tomar says

FEBRUARY 1, 2018 AT 10:38 PM

Really great explntn

Reply

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6 FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTOR a

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