Ī transistor acts as a switch which can open and close many times per second.īIPOLAR JUNCTION TRANSISTORS The most common type of transistor is a bipolar junction transistor. Since a large amount of current can be controlled by a small amount of current, a transistor acts as an amplifier. This is analogous to the small amount of effort required to open a tap (faucet) to release a large flow of water.
Transistors have many uses including switching, voltage/current regulation, and amplification - all of which are useful in renewable energy applications.Ī transistor controls a large electrical output signal with changes to a small input signal.
Transistors are often said to be the most significant invention of the 20th Century. A Transistor is an semiconductor which is a fundamental component in almost all electronic devices.