‰  NOW 20 WPM  ‰  TEXT IS FROM OCTOBER 2017 QST  PAGE 38‰

WHEN THE PROBES ARE REVERSED, THE METER WILL SHOW THE LETTERS OL SEE FIGURE
8, MEANING OVERLOAD.  IN OTHER WORDS, THE RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT IN THIS
POSITION EXCEEDS THE CAPABILITY OF THE METER.  THIS INDICATES A GOOD DIODE,
ASSUMING THE FIRST MEASUREMENT WAS OKAY.  FROM YOUR JUNK BOX IF YOURE LIKE
ME, YOU PROBABLY HAVE A NUMBER OF TRANSISTORS IN YOUR JUNK BOX.  MAYBE
THEYRE LEFT OVER FROM AN OLD PROJECT, OR YOU JUST DONT REMEMBER WHAT THEY
CAME FROM.  FORTUNATELY, TRANSISTORS, UNLIKE TUBES, DO NOT USUALLY
DEGENERATE.  IF THEY ARE NOT SHORTED OR BURNED OUT, THEY PROBABLY WORK AS
WELL AS THEY DID WHEN THEY WERE NEW.  IF YOUR DMM HAS A POSITION TO TEST
DIODES, YOU CAN USE THIS POSITION TO TEST BIPOLAR OR JUNCTION TRANSISTORS.
YOU CAN ALSO USE IT TO TELL IF A TRANSISTOR IS AN NPN OR A PNP.
‰  END OF 20 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ