
The negative electrons in the N-type silicon get attracted to the positive terminal of the battery. When you put N-type and P-type silicon together as shown in this diagram, you get a very interesting phenomenon that gives a diode its unique properties.Įven though N-type silicon by itself is a conductor, and P-type silicon by itself is also a conductor, the combination shown in the diagram does not conduct any electricity. A diode is a one-way turnstile for electrons. You may have seen turnstiles at a stadium or a subway station that let people go through in only one direction. A diode allows current to flow in one direction but not the other. That's what happens in a diode.Ī diode is the simplest possible semiconductor device. N-type and P-type silicon are not that amazing by themselves but when you put them together, you get some very interesting behavior at the junction. P-type silicon is a good conductor.Ī minute amount of either N-type or P-type doping turns a silicon crystal from a good insulator into a viable (but not great) conductor - hence the name "semiconductor." A hole happily accepts an electron from a neighbor, moving the hole over a space. The absence of an electron creates the effect of a positive charge, hence the name P-type. When mixed into the silicon lattice, they form "holes" in the lattice where a silicon electron has nothing to bond to. Boron and gallium each have only three outer electrons.
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It takes only a very small quantity of the impurity to create enough free electrons to allow an electric current to flow through the silicon. The fifth electron has nothing to bond to, so it's free to move around. Phosphorus and arsenic each have five outer electrons, so they're out of place when they get into the silicon lattice. N-type - In N-type doping, phosphorus or arsenic is added to the silicon in small quantities.With the switch's toggle lever in the ON position, the multi-tester should read 0 if the metal pathway in the switch is intact. In the example of a single-pole wall switch, you will be touching the probes to the two screw terminals on the side of the switch. Touch one probe of the tester to one side of the pathway, and touch the other probe to the other side.Some meters have an audible alarm that indicates perfect continuity (0 ohms resistance).

No matter how the tool's multiplier dial is set, you will be looking for a reading of 0 ohms to indicate perfect continuity in the switch or whatever device you are testing. For simple continuity tests of switches and other devices, the multiplier settings are not important.For example, if your dial is set for X10 and the meter reads 50 ohms, the actual resistance number is 10 x 50, or 500 ohms. These multipliers tell you that the reading on the ohm meter should be multiplied by the number indicated on the dial. Since the testers are designed to test for a wide range of resistance on sophisticated electronic parts, it has multiplier ohm settings, indicated by markings such as X1, X10, XK1, etc., controlled by a dial or buttons. In this mode, you also have the ability to set a multiplier factor, which can be slightly confusing if you are unfamiliar with the tool.



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How to Use a Multimeter to Test for Continuity The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.
