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Middle Technical University Electronics Lab.

Electrical Engineering Technical College 2nd Stage


Electrical Power Technical Engineering Dept. Mohammed D. Altamemi

Experement-9
The NPN and PNP Transistors Operating as a Switch

9-1 Object:
In this experiment we will analyze the transistor operating as a switch, that is to
say, in order to open and close circuits.

9-2 Theory:
The easiest way to use a transistor is as a switch. It means that it must work in
the saturation or cut off point and nowhere else on the trajectory of the load line.
When a transistor is saturated, it works as a closed switch between the collector and
the emitter. When a transistor is in cut off, it works as an open switch.

The designer must insure that transistor used as a switch is work in saturation or
in cut off to operate in close or open switch. To do that, we should reach to hard
saturation (if IC = 10mA, then IB = 1mA) to insure that transistor will stay in
saturation region (in other wise close), whatever the temperature of transistor changes.
So we should always keep the ratio (10:1) when we try to design transistorized
switching circuits.

7-2-1 the NPN transistor as a switch:

Figure (9-1) shows a transistorized switching circuit excited by a voltage step.


When the input voltage is zero, the transistor is in cut off, in this case it works as an
open switch. When there is no current through the collector resistor, the output
voltage is equal to +15V.

When the input voltage is +5V, the base current is:

Suppose the transistor is in short circuit between the collector and the emitter.
Then the output voltage falls ideally to zero and the saturation current is:

This is approximately 10 times the base current, Which is enough to provide a


hard saturation in almost any type of small signal transistors, meaning that the
transistor works as a closed switch and the output voltage (Voutput) is approximately
zero.
Middle Technical University Electronics Lab.
Electrical Engineering Technical College 2nd Stage
Electrical Power Technical Engineering Dept. Mohammed D. Altamemi

Figure (9-1) NPN transistor operates as a switch

7-2-2 the PNP transistor as a switch:

The study of this case is completely analogous to the previous one. The circuit
in this case it is the one shown in figure (9-2).

Figure (9-2) PNP transistor operates as a switch

When the applied voltage to the input is next to Vdc, the transistor is in cut off
state and it does not conduct. However, when we connect a substantially lower
voltage to the input, the transistor comes into saturation and close the circuit, and with
that the load 1K would have at its terminals a voltage next to Vdc. As we can see,
while this circuit conducts when the base resistor of the transistor is connected to "a
voltage valley", the previous one did it when it was connected to a "peak".

9-3 Procedures:
In figure (9-3) we can see the transistor, and resistance values. It consists of the
two switch types already seen: one NPN transistor and another one PNP.

The two LED diode which appear will indicated when the switch is closed
(LED light) or open (LED switch off).
Middle Technical University Electronics Lab.
Electrical Engineering Technical College 2nd Stage
Electrical Power Technical Engineering Dept. Mohammed D. Altamemi

In the first part, of the practice we will make the NPN transistor to work as a
switch. In the second part we will work with the PNP one.

Figure (9-3) circuit of PNP and NPN transistor as a switch

First: NPN transistor as a switch.


1. Set the circuit shown in figure (9-3).
2. Adjust the switches J1, and J3 in on state (conduction).
3. You will notice that LED diode 1 turn to be on, connect ammeters to measure
IB and IC in saturation mode of transistor.
4. Turn off the switches J1 and J3, you will notice that LED diode 1 will turn off,
record readings of IB and IC at cut off mode of transistor.

Second: PNP transistor as a switch:

5. For the circuit in figure (9-3), you only have to turn off the two switches J1
and J3, and set on J2, you will notice LED diode 2 will turn on.
6. Take an ammeters, and connect them to measure IB and IC for PNP transistor
in saturation mode.
7. Turn of J2 switch, you will notice that LED diode 2 will turn off, and then
record IB and IC at cut off mode of transistor.

9-4 Discussions:
1. In connection in figure (9-3), when J1, and J3 is ON the NPN transistor is
operating in:
A. Cut off.
B. Saturation.
C. The lowest part of the load line.
Middle Technical University Electronics Lab.
Electrical Engineering Technical College 2nd Stage
Electrical Power Technical Engineering Dept. Mohammed D. Altamemi

D. The highest part of load line.


2. What happened if the switch J1 is OFF in circuit of figure (9-3).
A. The diode does not light.
B. The diode light.
C. The diode light intermittently.
D. The diode light shines if the source f3 voltage is decreased.
3. In step 2 of procedure, which is the base current value?
4. In step 6 of procedure, which is the current that we measure in this way?
A. IC.
B. IE.
C. IC and IB.
D. IC + IE.
5. In step 6 of procedure, which is the currents value?
6. In connection in figure (9-3), which is the voltage value of the collector-
Emitter for NPN and PNP ?
A. 0.7V
B. 2V
C. 10V approximately.
D. 0V approximately.
7. In connection in figure (9-3), what is the CC gain value when the transistor
operates in saturation for NPN and PNP transistor?
8. In step 6 of procedure. What is the applied voltage to the base resistor when
the transistor conducts between collector and emitter?
9. In step 7 of procedure, which is the base current value?

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