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Transistors not labeled, what to do?

ZeroSizeObject
There are no identifying marks on a bunch of transistors I have in surplus. (Is it typical to have lots of extra parts laying around, or am I mad?)

How can I distinguish which transistor is a pnp or npn?

Zero
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    Not mad - funny, I still have some 68HC711 windowed parts from the early-mid '90s. Oops, dating myself there.

     

    If you assume the transistors are bipolar, then you can use a multimeter with 'diode' function to determine PNP or NPN. Some multi-meters actually have transistor functions on them. Of course, once you determine PNP or NPN, they won't really be all that good except for experimenting as low voltage switches. Just too many other characteristics that you'd need to know to use them effectively.

     

    Anyhow, hope that helps.

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  • 0

    Not mad - funny, I still have some 68HC711 windowed parts from the early-mid '90s. Oops, dating myself there.

     

    If you assume the transistors are bipolar, then you can use a multimeter with 'diode' function to determine PNP or NPN. Some multi-meters actually have transistor functions on them. Of course, once you determine PNP or NPN, they won't really be all that good except for experimenting as low voltage switches. Just too many other characteristics that you'd need to know to use them effectively.

     

    Anyhow, hope that helps.

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