How can I convert a PNP to NPN transistor?

If you have the exact NPN equivalent you only need to mount the circuit as it is drawn, so that the base, collector and emitter terminals of the NPN are connected where base, collector and emitter of the PNP should go, and then reverse the power supply polarity. This trick works in most cases, but it depends on the circuit we are speaking about. The exact same thing works if you want to use a PNP instead of a NPN. Remember that all the transistors in the circuit should be changed with theyr complementary, so if you have PNP's and NPN's in your circuit there's no way out, you need both types of transistors.


If it's the only type of transistor in the circuit, the translation is straightforward; build the circuit as designed, reverse the power connections and any other polarised components (diodes, electrolytic caps).

If you need one PNP in a mostly NPN circuit, there is no general solution.

There may be solutions, depending on the configuration of the PNP stage.

For example, if the PNP transistor was being used as an emitter follower, and you have the headroom, you may be able to use an NPN in common emitter, with Rc=Re so that its gain is (approx) 1.

If the PNP transistor was in a complementary power output stage but you can only find low power PNP transistors, I remember seeing an arrangement using a PNP driver transistor and an NPN power transistor to "replace" the non-existent PNP power transistor. Peter Walker did this around 1970 for the Quad 303 power amp (I believe 3 transistors were involved) when there was no PNP version of the famous 2N3055.

And there may be other such substitutions.