How PNP Transistors Work

In this post we learn regarding how a PNP transistor works or conducts in response to a fixed biasing voltage and a varying supply voltage, across its base and emitter. The question was put forth by Mr. Aaron Keenan.

Question Regarding PNP BJT Working

Great information and lots of interesting circuits!
I have a question about a specific circuit on the page above.Here's the exact circuit.

I'm going a little crazy trying to figure out exactly how it works to trigger at a low voltage threshold. I graduated Electrical Engineering in 2004, I guess I've gotten rusty and would really appreciate if you could help explain?

Here's what I understand: - The circuit acts purely like a voltage divider until the voltage at the point between VR1 and R2 is aproximately 3.3v lower than the voltage at the base of the transistor.

At which point the zener conducts in reverse and the transistor conducts (illuminating the diode).

The voltage at the base of the transistor is aproximately 0.7 volts (Vbe) lower than the input (emitter) As an example, if the source voltage is 12 volts:Assume Vbe = 0.7 12v - 0.7 - 3.3 = 8v

The voltage divider would have to be 4 Volt drop across VR1 (min) and 8Volts across R2 (maximum) in order for the transistor to conduct.

Let's set VR1=1K (4v drop) and R2=2K (8v drop) What I don't understand is that if the voltage increases (ie. from 12 to 36) then I would expect the light to go off (since the circuits purpose is for the light to come on when the voltage is low).

However, increasing the source voltage would only increase the difference in voltage across the zener (ie. futher exceeding its breakdown voltage) and the light would continue to stay on. For example, at 36 Volts :VR1 voltage drop = 12R2 Voltage drop = 24.

Since we have 36 - 0.7 = 35.3 volts at the base and 24 Volts across R2 we have further exceeded the breakdown voltage and the light is still on.

If I decrease the voltage to 6 Volts:VR1 voltage drop = 2 Volts R2 voltage drop = 4 Volts

Since we have 6 - 0.7 = 5.3 at one end of the zener and 4 Volts at the other, the breakdown voltage of the zener was not exceeded and therefore the light is off.

I'm not one to just use circuits blindly and would like to fully understand how it works. Could you be so kind as to put me on the right track? I'd really really appreciate it!! (2 days I can't sleep trying to figure it out!)

Thanks again!Aaron

Solution (as per my assumption and derivation):

How a PNP Transistor Actually Works

Thanks Aaron,

To learn how PNP transistors work can be a little confusing due to their opposite course of actions compared to their NPN counterparts.

I'll try to explain the functioning with a simple cross multiplication which is derived as per my understanding: Let's remove R2 and the zener to make the simulation easier.

Let's assume, with a 12V supply we adjust the preset to produce 0.6V across base/emitter of the transistor.

This lights up the LED brightly.

From here on if we increase the voltage the 0.6V across B/E of the transistor can be expected to drop and making the conduction difficult for the transistor and correspondingly reduce the brightness level on the LED.

The trick here is to consider an inversely proportional calculation instead of a directly proportional calculation which might be true for an NPN transistor but not for a PNP.

The following formula can be tried for verifying the results:

12/V = b/0.6

Here 12 refers to the threshold voltage level at which the preset is adjusted to achieve 0.6V across B/E of the transistor.

V is the "test" voltage level which may be higher than 12V, b is the change in the B/E voltage in response to the applied higher "test" voltage.

So let's take 36V as per your suggestion for the expression V, solving the above formula with 36V we get

12/36 = b/0.6

36 x b = 12 x 0.6

b = 0.2V

At 0.2V the transistor will be completely shut off.

This is how I assume the calculation to be, and how a PNP might conduct in response to a set base/emitter voltage and a rising supply voltage

Please feel free to investigate and respond on the above assumption.