Testing SMD parts with a multimeter
Six readings on a meter's diode range often tell you what a three-lead SMD part is, and whether it has failed. Below are the meter tests WhatSMD gives for each kind of part, with the traps that make a good part look dead.
Last reviewed
Before you measure
Switch the board off and discharge its large capacitors. Set the meter to its diode range: it pushes a small current, about 0.5 to 1 mA, through the part and shows the voltage across it, up to about 2 to 3 V, above which it reads open.
On the board the meter reads every path between two pins, so a low reading can belong to a neighbour. Treat a reading on the board as a first look. To be sure, lift the part, or at least one leg, before you condemn it.
Six readings for a three-lead part
Number the pins as the datasheet does. In SOT-23, with the single lead at the top, pin 1 is at the bottom left, pin 2 at the bottom right and pin 3 is the single lead. Measure each pair both ways and write the six readings in a grid, the red probe's pin down the side and the black probe's across the top. A working NPN transistor with its base on pin 1 reads like this:
| Black on pin 1 | Black on pin 2 | Black on pin 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red on pin 1 | same pin | junction | junction |
| Red on pin 2 | open | same pin | open |
| Red on pin 3 | open | open | same pin |
Then read the pattern:
| The readings | Most likely |
|---|---|
| Two junctions from one pin, red probe on it | An NPN transistor, or two diodes with a common anode |
| Two junctions to one pin, black probe on it | A PNP transistor, or two diodes with a common cathode |
| One junction, and the third pin open to both others | A MOSFET, its body diode with the gate open, or a single diode with one pin not connected |
| A junction from pin 1 to pin 3 and from pin 3 to pin 2, and a larger reading from pin 1 to pin 2 | Two diodes in series |
| Open on every pair, both ways | A two-way TVS diode, a digital transistor (try the ohms range), a part that needs power before it reads anything, or a part that has failed open |
| The same low reading both ways on one pair | A short: the part has failed, or something on the board joins those pins |
To tell a MOSFET from a single diode, call the junction's pins A, where the red probe sat when it read, and K. Touch the open pin with the red probe and A with the black one for a moment, then measure the junction again: an N-channel MOSFET now reads low both ways. If nothing changed, touch the open pin with the black probe and K with the red one, and measure again: a P-channel MOSFET now reads low both ways. A single diode reads as before. Afterwards, short the gate to the other pins with tweezers to switch the MOSFET off.
For a code shared by a diode pair and a MOSFET, told apart with three of these readings, see A7 on a SOT-23.
What each kind of part reads
These are the meter tests WhatSMD shows under every part, for the kinds you meet in small packages: the setting, what a working part reads, what a failed one reads, and the trap to watch for.
Silicon diode
Diode range, part lifted or one leg off the pad. Red probe on the anode.
Working, it reads
About 0.5 to 0.8 V anode to cathode, and open the other way. Small switching diodes read about 0.6 to 0.7 V; large rectifiers can read a little lower.
Dead, it reads
- The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
- Open both ways: failed open.
- A reading the wrong way round as well: leaky.
- On the board
- this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
- Compare:
- If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
- Watch for:
- A three-pin body can hold two diodes. With a common pin they read two junctions from that pin, just like a transistor; in series they read two drops end to end. Test each pair the datasheet names.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Schottky diode
Diode range, part lifted or one leg off the pad. Red probe on the anode.
Working, it reads
About 0.15 to 0.45 V anode to cathode, roughly half a silicon diode, and open the other way.
Dead, it reads
- The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
- A reading the wrong way round as well: leaky.
- Open both ways: failed open.
- On the board
- this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
- Compare:
- If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
- Watch for:
- A large Schottky can read about 0.1 V forward and beep like a short, and leaks a little the wrong way when good, more when warm. It is shorted only if it reads the same both ways. Measure it cold, beside an identical cold one.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Zener diode
Diode range for the forward check, part lifted, red probe on the anode. A bench supply for the Zener voltage.
Working, it reads
About 0.6 to 0.8 V forward and open in reverse on the diode range. Its Zener voltage shows only on a supply: feed it through a resistor that sets about 5 mA, cathode to positive, read quickly, and it should hold near its rated voltage.
Dead, it reads
- The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
- Open both ways, forward too: failed open.
- Holds well off its rated voltage on the supply test: drifted.
- A soft knee, or a voltage that creeps on the supply test: leaky.
- On the board
- this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
- Compare:
- If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
- Watch for:
- A meter's diode range stops at about 2 to 3 V, so almost every Zener reads open in reverse on it, good or bad; a 3 V meter may just show a 2.4 or 2.7 V part. Above about 3 V the meter cannot tell a Zener from a plain diode.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
TVS or ESD protection diode
Diode range, from the protected line to ground, part lifted if you can.
Working, it reads
A one-way part reads about 0.6 to 0.8 V forward and open in reverse. A two-way part reads open both ways. Arrays with several lines read as the datasheet's diagram draws them.
Dead, it reads
- From the line to ground, the same reading both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep: shorted.
- A reading both ways on a one-way part: leaky.
- A one-way part open both ways: failed open.
- On the board
- , a line reading shorted to ground can be this part or anything else on that line. Lift it: if the short goes with it, it has failed.
- Compare:
- The same part on the next line or connector pin is the healthy reading to compare with.
- Watch for:
- A two-way part reads open both ways when it is good, exactly like one that has failed open. The meter cannot tell them apart; an identical part on the next line can.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
NPN transistor
Diode range, part lifted or its base leg off the pad.
Working, it reads
Red probe on the base reads about 0.6 to 0.75 V to the emitter and to the collector, and open the other way round. Collector to emitter reads open both ways.
Dead, it reads
- Collector to emitter the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep: shorted. The commonest failure.
- The base the same both ways to another pin, near 0 V or a middling value: a shorted junction.
- Only one junction reads, or none: a junction has failed open. It then looks like a diode.
- A reading the wrong way round, where it should be open: leaky.
- On the board
- this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
- Compare:
- If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
- Watch for:
- A pair of diodes with a common pin reads just like a transistor, and some transistors carry a built-in diode or resistor. The datasheet says which.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
PNP transistor
Diode range, part lifted or its base leg off the pad.
Working, it reads
Black probe on the base reads about 0.6 to 0.75 V to the emitter and to the collector, and open the other way round. Collector to emitter reads open both ways.
Dead, it reads
- Collector to emitter the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep: shorted. The commonest failure.
- The base the same both ways to another pin, near 0 V or a middling value: a shorted junction.
- Only one junction reads, or none: a junction has failed open. It then looks like a diode.
- A reading the wrong way round, where it should be open: leaky.
- On the board
- this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
- Compare:
- If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
- Watch for:
- A pair of diodes with a common pin reads just like a transistor, and some transistors carry a built-in diode or resistor. The datasheet says which.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Digital transistor
Ohms range, part lifted. The datasheet gives the built-in resistors: R1 in series with the base, R2 from base to emitter.
Working, it reads
Base to emitter reads about R1 plus R2 either way round, about 20 kΩ on a 10 k and 10 k part, give or take their wide tolerance. Collector to emitter reads open. A part with no R2 reads a junction behind R1 one way instead.
Dead, it reads
- Collector to emitter the same both ways, near 0 Ω with a continuous beep: shorted.
- From the base, open or far above R1 plus R2: R1 has failed. Static damage shows here most often.
- Base to emitter near 0 Ω: failed short.
- On the board
- this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
- Compare:
- The readings depend on the resistor values, so an identical part elsewhere on the board is the surest reference. Measure it the same way.
- Watch for:
- On the diode range a good part with 10 kΩ resistors reads open on every pair, so a good part looks dead there. Use the ohms range.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
N-channel MOSFET
Diode range, part lifted. Test drain to source first, then short gate to source and test again.
Working, it reads
Red probe on the source, black on the drain: about 0.4 to 0.9 V, the body diode. Open the other way. The gate reads open to both other pins, both ways.
Dead, it reads
- Drain to source the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep, and still so after shorting gate to source: shorted. The classic failure.
- The gate reads low to source or drain: gate shorted. Often all three pins end up shorted together.
- No body diode at all: failed open.
- On the board
- the gate usually has a resistor to the source, so gate to source reads that resistor, which is not a fault. A drain short can be the load. Lift a leg to be sure.
- Compare:
- If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
- Watch for:
- The diode range can charge the gate enough to turn the part on, and then drain to source reads near 0 both ways on a good part. Short gate to source and test again before you condemn it.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
P-channel MOSFET
Diode range, part lifted. Test drain to source first, then short gate to source and test again.
Working, it reads
Red probe on the drain, black on the source: about 0.4 to 0.9 V, the body diode. Open the other way. The gate reads open to both other pins, both ways.
Dead, it reads
- Drain to source the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep, and still so after shorting gate to source: shorted. The classic failure.
- The gate reads low to source or drain: gate shorted. Often all three pins end up shorted together.
- No body diode at all: failed open.
- On the board
- the gate usually has a resistor to the source, so gate to source reads that resistor, which is not a fault. Lift a leg to be sure.
- Compare:
- If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
- Watch for:
- The diode range can charge the gate enough to turn the part on, and then drain to source reads near 0 both ways on a good part. Short gate to source and test again before you condemn it.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
When the meter cannot decide
Some parts read the same good or bad. A two-way TVS diode reads open either way, a Zener above about 3 V reads like a plain diode, and a regulator or other IC needs power before its readings mean much. Measure an identical part elsewhere on the board the same way: that is what yours should read.
To find what the part is in the first place, start from its code: How to identify an SMD component.
Try it
Search the code on the part you are testing: every part it lists comes with its meter test.