3 ms·
> Leads to some goofy schematic choices like the negative voltages being at the top of the schematic pages because it lines up better when compared with a tube
by Gordonjcp 4y ago
> Leads to some goofy schematic choices like the negative voltages being at the top of the schematic pages because it lines up better when compared with a tube based design.
I'm guessing this is because it was using early germanium transistors which would most likely be PNP. It was a long time before NPN transistors became the "default", because they were easier to make in silicon which came along later.
- monocasa 4y agoRight on the money, they're 2N1301 germanium PNP transistors for the most part.
- retrac 4y agoProbably right. It's actually still normal/correct to draw a PNP circuit between negative rail and ground with the negative supply at the top. Schematics should convey how the engineer thinks about the circuit, and inputs come in the top and left and outputs exit at the bottom/right. Except no one really designs PNP-oriented circuits with negative supply voltages these days because eugh.