transistor models (newbie question)

hello. i wonder if you can help me...

as a newbie, is there someplace where can i find a good explanation of
transistor models? not on the web: i looked all over it, and
everything i found was either

1) too advanced: instead of beginning ab-ovo they assume considerable
familiarity with the subject matter ("thermal voltage", "saturation
current") and with standard mnemonic symbols (whose physical meaning
therefore doesn't need to be explained)

or

2) not advanced enough: handwaving, pretty pictures, and verbiage of
uncertain meaning take the place of clear, formal (ie: logical,
mathematical) definitions

i'm willing to put a decent amount of effort into understanding this.
i will even sit through a fair amount of handwaving, if necessary,
provided i have a reasonable assurance that it really is taking me
where i want to go.

any help will be very much appreciated

peace
stm

 

There are several kinds of transistors. BJTs, FETs, MOS, and so on. What
are you after?

 

You want to learn basic electronics without getting an engineering
degree.
The Amateur Radio Relay League sells books that are very good at this.
The ARRL handbook has a brief but clear section on basic electronics.

Also, the military training manuals are clear and simple. I have a
Dover reprint of a BUPERS training manual titled "Basic Electronics"
that dates to the 1970s. Heathkit used to sell training matter
relating to basic electronics. Check eBay.

Check your local library for random basic electronics books, or eBay.

I don't know how anyone can learn basic transistor operation without
building test circuits on a breadboard.

 

Do you want to understand the theory of how they work or just know enough to
design them in ?

Graham

 

Horowitz & Hill "The Art of Electronics" ISBN 0-521-37095-7
chapter 2

 

i want to concentrate first on the uses they can be put to. it would
be nice if that background enabled me to appreciate the physics later
on, but starting with physics won't work for me

 

thanks for the pointers. i'll look into them

 

Have a look at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/g.knott/index9.htm

 

When I was about 8, my Dad brought home a couple of military training
manuals on semiconductor physics. It had really cool drawings of how
holes move and how a base works, and all kinds of neat stuff - and best
of all, it was understandable to an 8-year old "genius" - it was designed
to be used by soldiers. ;-)

Cheers!
Rich