>Different brands of multimeters have different polarities on the probes
>for the resistance function, so I always have to compare to a known good
>part.  Even still it is hard to tell the BE junction from the BC
>junction.  Do you have a trick I don't know?

The junction area is different thus the forward voltage drop at the same
current is lower for BE for most transistors (thos that do not use any
funky emitter doping tricks at least). This is not a rule of thumb afaik.

>I am appalled by how many "engineering" candidates can't add 1/8" to
>0.05" in their head.

I can't in inches. Only in mm ;-).

Peter

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