What is a Transistor | Working Principles

=============================

▶ Check out the full blog post over at

=============================

⌚Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:59 - Types of transistors
01:19 - What is a semiconductor?
02:01 - What do the letters N and P mean?
02:48 - Bipolar Junction Transistor
04:00 - Transistor as an amplifier
04:10 - Transistor as a switch
04:53 - Transistor Radio
05:24 - Proximity switch
05:48 - PLC output modules

=============================

In this video, we’re going to introduce you to an electronic component called the Transistor.

A transistor is an electronic component found in a variety of circuits and is used to amplify or switch electronic signals and electrical power.

There are many different transistor types each with its own electronic symbol.
– BJT or Bipolar Junction Transistor
– FET or Field Effect Transistor
– UJT or Unijunction Transistor

The first stage of making a transistor is the process of changing the semiconductor conducting properties by introducing impurities into its structure. This conduction change process is referred to as Doping.

Simply stated, a P slice of the sandwich is more positive and an N slice of the sandwich is more negative because of Doping.

A transistor is basically a sandwich made of 3 chunks of a semiconductor material doped to make the P chunks more positive, and the N chunks more negative.

There are 2 types of BJT’s.
They are given names based on the doping content of the semiconductor chunks in each.

One is called an NPN and the other is called a PNP.
Each has its own electronic symbol.

There is a terminal connected to each chunk of the sandwich and each terminal is given a name. The names are Emitter, Base, and Collector.

If we look at controlling a large voltage with a small voltage, we can say that we are performing an amplification. A transistor can do that.

The transistor’s ability to act as a switch or perform a transfer of resistance makes it a very useful component in industrial applications.

Let’s look at how a transistor works as a switch.
The switch part of the transistor is between the Collector and the Emitter.
The switch is operated by changing the voltage between the Base and the Emitter.

If the input voltage is 0 volts, the switch is open, the resistance is infinite, and the output voltage is +10 volts.
If the input voltage is +10V, the switch is closed, the resistance is zero, and the output voltage is 0 volts.

There are countless transistor applications.
One application that had a huge impact was the invention of the Transistor Radio.
Before the advent of transistors, radios were large bulky pieces of furniture filled with vacuum tubes providing the required audio amplification.

Transistors are used in industry as well.
For example, traditional limit switches are being replaced with active proximity sensors.

The output of an active proximity sensor is a transistor switch. With no moving parts and nothing to wear out or breakdown, the active proximity switch is the hands-down winner over a mechanical limit switch.

Incorporating transistors into PLC output modules is another example of where transistors are used in the industry.
PLC output modules are now built with transistor output circuits.

Early PLCs utilized relay switching to operate loads.
Instead of operating a relay, a PLC module can control the output device with a transistor switch. Again….no moving parts….better reliability and a definite advantage in switching speed!

=============================

You might want to review our previous articles

3-wire Inductive Proximity Sensor | How to Read the Datasheet

Limit Switch Explained | Working Principles

How to Wire Discrete DC Sensors to PLC - Part 2

=============================

Missed our most recent videos? Watch them here:

=============================

To stay up to date with our last videos and more lessons, make sure to subscribe to this YouTube channel:

=============================

=============================

#RealPars #Transistor #Electronic

[Young]

This is indeed the best channel on youtube to learn about different engineering principles

[sssssssss]

I've watched like 10 videos and I understood nothing about this topic, but first minute in this video I understood everything. Thanks

[tieliu]

The best channel to learn automation. Thank you for the great videos.

[ingenieurdjamel]

Very best Technical Page Thanks @RealRars

[hicham]

Can't thank you enough for learning new skills everyday from you chanel.

[agboolajohnson.s.]

Anytime I click on a video made by realpars, there’s this joy that fills my heart. God bless this page and the crew

[roseelectronics]

This channel is going the right direction. Nice video.

[vitaliegroza]

We appreciate your great work. Thanks very much my friend

[timdaniels]

That was fun. I vaguely remember that from high school. If I remember correctly, the transistor is two diodes back to back or front to front hence; NPN or PNP. It's been over 40 years. Great videos 👍😷

[brahimabdelsadek]

Love the channel.nice video.thanks for sharing👍👍👍

[Jiji-rcgr]

what a great video. i love you real pars

[coreyastrom]

What a GREAT video! It really helped me, a total electronics simpleton, to understand transistors, etc. Thanks!!

[DanielRajczyk]

The way you explain it is very good, keep it up. And at last we need an episode about mosfets and igbt :D

[terryenglish]

Small point, there were pocket size tube radios. They used the small tubes w leads that were soldered directly, not sockets and pins. I used a low V one designed to be for hearing aids, as a guitar preamp.

[saskiavanhoutert]

Perhaps silicon or germanium can be replaced with recycled aluminium in combination with recycled glas and recycled plastic.
Those are cheaper earthcomponents and cheaper fabrication is possible perhaps. Thanks for this video, kind regards.

[elena]

Excellent video. Can you do some videos for newbie idiots like me? I am confused about start and run capacitors in motors.

[james]

Do u have plans to make a video on transistor theory? Depletion zone, biasing?

[ShahzaibKhan-eyqc]

Excuse me sir ! Kindly make a vedio on thyristor, SCR, TCR, MOSFET etc ...and converters I.e Buck boost etc
Hopefully waiting for positive response.
Thank you !

[sazzadhossan]

I am a Fresher BSC engineer in EEE.Can Anyone suggest some skills for remote job related to EEE field?