How do I energize a 12v relay coil using a 2N2222 bipolar transistor?

Question

I'm relatively new to working with transistors, and I'm having some trouble getting this circuit to work. I want to use an Arduino's I/O pins (5V out) to energize a 12V relay coil. To do this, I'm powering the Arduino with 12 volts via the power port on the Arduino. For my transistor circuit, I'm pulling from the Vin pin on the Arduinio, which is also 12V.

I cannot figure out how to make it so that flipping an i/o pin from 0v to 5v switches the transistor, this allowing 12v to go across the relay coil.

I know the equations for the operating regions and I'm assuming I'm trying to drive the transistor into active by having Vbe > 0.7V, but I don't really know how to set up the circuit to properly regulate this.

I am editing the question to point that the 2N2222 is not a MOSFET. — Michael Karas, Apr 26 '15 at 00:28
Sorry, I sometimes just call transistors MOSFET's kind of like calling tissues Kleenex. I don't work with BJT's much in my electronics class. also, I may be wrong, but isn't it active region we want rather than saturation for BJTs? — Jake, Apr 26 '15 at 00:30
Well engineering is a more exact science than careless use of words. Better get used to being more exacting. — Michael Karas, Apr 26 '15 at 00:32
If you use a BJT as a switch, which is what you're looking for, you must turn it ON to energize the relay. For BJTs this means to be driven heavily in their saturation region. Do not confuse that with the saturation region of MOSFETs, which is analogous to the active region of BJTs. The terminology may seem incoherent, but the concept of saturation is related to the physics of the device, not to the shape of their characteristic curves, so the meaning of "saturation" is different for BJTs and MOSFETs. — LorenzoDonati4Ukraine-OnStrike, Apr 26 '15 at 11:14

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 26 '15 at 00:35

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This question has probably already been answered 100's of times. But here is maybe the 201'st time.

Use a circuit that looks like this:

enter image description here

answered Apr 26 '15 at 00:35

Michael Karas

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There. Even the transistor is the same. Haven't we got the close→duplicate option? – Nick Alexeev Apr 26 '15 at 00:42
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If it was closed the OP may never have learned that BJT's are not MOSFET's. – Michael Karas Apr 26 '15 at 00:47
One can still have a discussion in the comments under a closed question. Now I'm wondering whether to merge or to send it to Arduino.SE so that they have one like this too. – Nick Alexeev Apr 26 '15 at 00:54
Jesus. I'm new to the stack exchange. I'm just looking for information. I apologize for making you guys so upset over a repeat question. – Jake Apr 26 '15 at 00:55
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@user2057387 We are not upset, and no apoloigy is required. But... First you ask a repeat question. Then you confuse BJT with MOSFET. Well... Consider stepping up your game. ;) – Nick Alexeev Apr 26 '15 at 00:59
I'm taking my first class ever on transistors right now. – Jake Apr 26 '15 at 01:02
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10K on the base might be a little high, depending on the transistor gain you might need a somewhat smaller resistor. – Chris Stratton Mar 04 '18 at 21:49
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Depends on Iload but I tend to agree. NO harm in using a 1k series base resistor. – Graham Stevenson Oct 09 '20 at 03:34

How do I energize a 12v relay coil using a 2N2222 bipolar transistor?

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