What is the proper way of testing transistors on a curve tracer?
Speaking in general, a curve tracer shows the input-output characteristics of a semiconductor. With regard to repair, a semiconductor that is not totally shorted or open, may still be inadequate, if its parameters (gain, etc) have altered so that they no longer meet manufacturers’ specs. Those parameters can be viewed on a curve tracer, and then compared to a known good device, or to the semiconductor datasheet, to determine whether the device is good or bad. Another use of the curve tracer in repair work, is when an unknown semiconductor is encountered (unmarked, or house marked). If the device is still good, its parameters can be determined, and a suitable substitute (commercially-available) device can then be found. More detail on the role of curve tracers, vs. other test instruments, is in the document at either, plop.phys.cwru.edu/repairfaq/sam/semitest.htm or fribble.cie.rpi.edu/~repairfaq/sam/semitest.htm Some procedures for performing curve traces can be found at these two site
