cjdelphi:
if anyone thought i was claiming "transistors can only handle up to 6v' no wrong, i've used 12v myself plenty of times, I did not realize that the 6v figure was for "reverse" and i'm still not entirely sure ..so if i apply -7v to the base of the transistor it will begin to conduct at the breakdown voltage?.
Yes and if not current limited by external resistor will destroy the transistor.
or are you saying..apply 7 on the emitter? and it will begin to conduct from the collector to emitter?..
Applying > +5vdc between base/emitter will also destroy most NPN transistors because of excessive current flow unless also limited by external resistor in the base circuit. When positive voltage is applied to the base in excess of the forward voltage drop rating of the base/emitter junction, current will flow but the voltage drop across the B/E junction will remain constant at the Vf rating of the B/E junction, until it melts open. Just like when powering a simple led, current control is what matters. An npn transistor is a current amplifying device, not a voltage controlled device.
this is what i mean by vague for me.....