Re: Great Jumpin Germaniums! (Ge Diode and Transistor Reviews & Discussion)

Posted by dbat69 on
URL: http://guitar-fx-layouts.238.s1.nabble.com/Great-Jumpin-Germaniums-Ge-Diode-and-Transistor-Reviews-Discussion-tp13256p14794.html

I would echo what Rocket has said.  THe DCA can give some slightly false readings when testing transistors when it says "Silicon" or "Germanium".  It obviously uses certain electrical properties to determine what type of transistor it is and if they reflect an Si transistor it will say that even though it is actually a Ge transistor.  Even with the same transistor, say a 2N404, it can say Si with one and Ge with another.  

I have not seen a Si showing leakage yet (which is one of the reasons why Ge got phased out).  Si transistors also are very temperature stable unlike Ge (another reason why they were replaced by Si transistors).