"Greg Mayman" bravely wrote to "Jasen Betts" (14 Jan 04
 08:13:00)
 --- on the heady topic of "*BIG* TRANSISTORS"

 GM> Did you ever try the trick of using skin conduction to bias the
 GM> transistor?

 GM> Place the ohmmeter across collector to emitor, but hold the metal
 GM> part of the probe on the collector lead between your thumb and
 GM> forefinger. Then place the second finger on the base lead. You
 GM> should see an increase in the meter reading (lowering of the
 GM> resistance value shown by the meter).

 GM> This can be done onehanded if you can use the same hand to
 GM> support the emitter connection to the meter ;-)

I use a similar trick for testing if the transistor has a relatively
high gain (this doesn't work well for low gain < 50). Instead of using
the second finger, you use the other hand's isolated index. This takes
the RF energy the arm picks up to be detected by the base-emitter
junction. The higher the gain the more deflection.

This is different to jumping the c-b junction in that it is a dynamic
test instead and gives some indication of activity. Just beware of
static electricity when testing "super beta" devices as these have very
fragile junctions but it's easy enough to discharge by simply touching
the other hand first.

Which reminds me of the Jocko joke: When do you know it is bedtime in
"Neverland"?... when the big hand touches the little hand...
Ewwwww...!!!

 Mike
 ****

... You may be a tech if you're entertained by a 6-pack and sparking HV.
--- Blue Wave/DOS v2.30