seyyah said:
What are the differences of the two configurations in the image? What are the drawbacks or advantages?
I think there is fault in your circuits: it must be the n-p-n transistor in the first circuit, and the p-n-p in the second.
If that, so these 2 circuits are identical, only different from each other by the polarity of input control voltage.
The first needs the high-level (with respect to the minus terminal of the battery) while the second needs the low-level control voltage to switch the lamp on.
However, the second circuit is more preferrable in practice, for example, if you place it on a car, then the lamp-holder can be installed directly (without isolation) on the chassis which in the most cases connected to the minus terminal of the battery.
You can use the second circuit with the n-p-n transistor, but you have to apply the input control voltage higher than the supply voltage from the battery. That is impractical.
nguyennam