Transistor TIP36C testing question

[AE35]

Hey !

I'm trying to find out how to test TIP36C transistors. I have some lying around(two of them),
and I test with a DMM set to diode, and red on middle leg(or top) and then only on ONE of the
outside legs. The other leg will show nothing at all.

But if I search the web(like Marvin fix, pinball repair), I can see that I should be able to get between
.4 and .6 on BOTH outside legs,  not just one.

So what are the odds that both my never-used TIP36C's are bad??

Any advice, as to how I'm really supposed to check these?

Thanks,

Nicholas

[MonMotha]

Grab the datasheet for this device and look at the pinout diagram.  For reference, it's BCE left->right if you hold it with the legs down/tab up and the metal back away from you.  The base is NOT in the middle on this one.  This uses the pinout more common in Japan rather than the American one.

Red lead goes on the base (B).  You should get ~0.5-0.7V between the base and both the collector (C) and emitter (E).  BC is sometimes a little higher than BE due to how they build them.

If your meter has a gain test (hFE) setting, you can also use that.  Plug it in as directed by your meter (this is a PNP device).  You should get a number between 10-50, usually close to 25.