Curves

Curves

The Curves tab runs sweeps on the last identified component. The list of sweeps follows the component: BJTs get the collector family and the gain curve, FETs the drain family and the transfer curve, and the two‑lead sweeps are always available. Parameters are pre‑filled from the identify (base currents from hFE, Vgs range from pinch‑off, anode/cathode from a diode's pinout).

Sweep	For	What you get
Ic / Vce family	BJT	Collector current against collector voltage, one trace per base current.
hFE vs Ic	BJT	Gain against collector current at a held Vce — the germanium matching curve.
Id / Vds family	JFET, MOSFET	Drain current against drain voltage, one trace per gate voltage.
Id / Vgs transfer	JFET, MOSFET	Drain current against gate voltage at a held Vds; read Idss and pinch‑off straight off the plot.
PN junction I‑V	any two leads	Forward (or reverse) current against voltage through the ~560 Ω sense path, up to 12 mA.
Reverse leakage I‑V	any two leads	Reverse current with nA resolution through the 470 kΩ gate path; current can never exceed ~25 µA. Shows a zener's knee with the current then saturating.

Press Start; the plot fills live and Stop cancels safely. Hover or touch the plot for a read‑out. CSV and PNG export the current traces.

Sweeps are saved with the reading (tick link to reading), listed under the plot, and any saved sweep can be overlaid for comparison — for example the same family from several transistors in a bin.

Limits: the unit supplies at most 12 V and 12 mA. A forward diode sweep tops out at about (Vmax − Vf)/560 Ω, so raise V max if you want more current.