Are you using a multimeter for the first time and finding the various symbols inscribed on it confusing? Are you trying to define in detail what hFE on a multimeter means? If so, you’ll find this information to be very useful. When working with electronic circuits and transistors, you’ll often encounter the term “hFE” on a multimeter, and understanding its significance is crucial for proper testing and troubleshooting. hFE stands for “heterojunction (or common emitter) current gain,” and it is a key parameter used to characterize bipolar junction transistors (BJTs). BJTs are essential components in electronics, serving as amplifiers and switches, and hFE plays a vital role in determining their behaviour.
It is more difficult than it seems to use a multimeter for the first time. You may become confused at any time by a variety of symbols. Before putting these signs to use, it is important to comprehend them. You may find detailed information on HFE in the guide.
But before we get started, let’s first understand what hFE on a multimeter means, how the multimeter works, and what the full form of hFE is.
Table of Contents
What Is hFE?
hFE, a common emitter, is an abbreviation for hybrid parameter forward current gain. Moreover, it is a measurement of the junction transistor’s direct current (DC) gain.
hFE = Ic/Ib
To break down this equation, we can see that Ic stands for “collector current” and Ib for “base current.” The transistor’s current gain, also known as hFE, is obtained by dividing these two quantities together.
What is the hFE Test for?
The test determines a transistor’s gain (or amplification factor). The ratio of the output signal to the input signal is known as gain. Another common name for it is “Beta” (). Transistors function as amplifiers by keeping a constant output impedance while raising the current or voltage at their output in relation to their input.
Checking a transistor’s gain and comparing it to what is needed for that application is crucial to determining whether or not it will perform effectively in that application.
What is HFE on multimeter?
Hybrid Parameter Forward Current Gain is abbreviated as hFE. It only denotes a hybrid forward emitter, sometimes referred to as a forward beta. It is employed to gauge how much current the transistors have amplified.
The direct current gain of a junction transistor is determined using the common emitter hFE. The multimeter has a setting for measuring a transistor’s hFE. The likelihood of applying it in various applications increases as the quantity of current amplified by transistors increases.
Combining two different electrical sources, such as the main power supplies and the batteries, yields a lower hFE value. An extremely high hFE value also indicates a problem because not all devices need that much power to function properly.
hFE is a measure of how effectively your transistors are performing. Typically, the AC or DC gain is used to determine the HFE. The hFE value, as we just mentioned, is quite variable. You can easily see a broad variety of variations between the transistor’s hFE minimum and maximum values. The development of transistors with a wide range of hFE is done because it is difficult to make a transistor with an exact weight of hFE.
How is the hFE Calculated?
The hFE is calculated by comparing the base current to the collector current, By comparing the bottom current to the collector current, the hFE is determined. With the help of a transistor tester, which enables you to test the above transistor, these two currents are compared.
The transistor tester will maintain an even base current before measuring the collector current that passes across it. You may compute the hFE after you know the results of these two measurements.
Why Do We Perform The hFE Test?
One of the most important things to understand about the proper functioning of transistors is hFE. The ratio of the output signal to the input is often known as the AC gain or efficiency (Beta).
The same is necessary to identify which one will work best with a given application’s requirements. These figures will need to be verified to see if they exactly match or not.
Conclusion
“HFE” on a multimeter stands for “heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) forward current transfer ratio,” which is more commonly referred to as “current gain.” It is a measure of how much the current amplifies as it passes through a transistor.
In the context of a multimeter, the hFE function allows you to test and measure the current gain of a transistor. This feature is particularly useful when you need to identify and troubleshoot transistors in electronic circuits. By measuring hFE, you can determine if a transistor is working as expected, whether it’s amplifying current properly, and whether it’s suitable for a specific application.
Read Also: What Is OL On A Multimeter?
FAQs
What is the hFE value?
The formula hFE = IC/IB with VCE at a constant voltage is used to compute the base-to-collector current gain or common-emitter DC gain. The forward DC current gain, or hFE, is sometimes referred to as F. It is often between 10 and 500, and is frequently written as (most often near 100). Current and temperature have an impact on hFE.
A higher HFE is better.
In general, you get more buffering and an accurate current response with a higher hFE.
What is meant by hFE in electronics?
This is a transistor’s current gain, represented as a h parameter (hybrid parameter). Forward transfer characteristics are denoted by the letter f, while common emitter configurations are denoted by the letter e.