EXPERIMENT 2

SILICON-CONTROLLED RECTIFIER CHARACTERISTICS

OBJECTIVES:

a. To obtain the V-I characteristics of SCR (Silicon Controlled Rectifier).

INTRODUCTION:

An SCR is a three terminal, four layer latching device. The three terminals are anode, cathode
and gate. When the anode is more positive w.r.t the cathode, junctions j1, j3 are forward biased
and the junction j2 is reverse biased. Only a small leakage current flows through the device. The
device is said to be in the forward blocking state or OFF state. When the anode to cathode
voltage is increased to break-over value, the junction j2 breaks down and device starts
conducting. The anode current must be more than a value known as latching current in order to
maintain the device in the ON state. Once SCR starts conducting, it behaves like a conducting
diode and gate has no control over the device.

The device can be turned OFF only by bringing the device current below a value known as
holding current. The forward voltage drop across the device in the ON state is around one volt.
When the cathode voltage is made positive w.r.t the anode voltage the junction j2 is forward
biased and the junction‟s j1 and j3 are reverse biased. The device will be in the reverse blocking
state and small reverse leakage current flows through the device. The device can be turned ON at
forward voltages less than break over voltage by applying suitable gate current.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Two continuously variable DC Regulated Power Supplies of 0-1v and 0-30v.

Specification of Regulated Power Supply:
Input Voltage: 230v ± 10% AC, 50 Hz. Load
30mA/ 0-1.2A) & (0-200µA).
One Voltmeter of Dual range 0-30V/0-1.2V.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

MODEL GRAPH:
EXPERIMENTAL DATA:

Ig = mA
(For OFF STATE) Ig = mA
SCR. NO (For ON STATE)
VAK(V) IA (ma) VAK (V) IA (ma)
2N2573 0V 0 mA 0V 0 mA
2N4170 5V 0.00025 mA 5V 0.00025 mA
2N4184 10V 0.002 mA 10 V 0.002 mA
2N4189 15 V 0.0003 mA 15 V 0.0003 mA
2N4442 20 V 0.001 mA 20 V 0.001 mA
2N3870 25 V 243.2 mA 0.680 V 243.2 mA
2N4444 30 V 293.033 mA 0.70 V 293.2 mA

RESULT:

Thus the forward V-I characteristics of SCR have been determined experimentally.
Write down your observation and draw the curve of above characteristics.
 350 25

300
20

250

15
200

150 10

100
5

50

0
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
-50 -5

The researcher observes the behavior of the SCR, graphically, first in an Off state
From 0 up to 15 it is stable then when it hits the 16 volts suddenly it drop then by
reaching 20 volts it goes up whereas in On state from 0 it goes higher up to 20 volts
and when it hits the 20 volts it drops to 0 and a point.

DISCUSSION:

In this laboratory experiment the researcher examine the behavior of the SCR in a on and
off state, to examine the effect of the circuit the researcher needs to change the applied
voltage. Thus, using the ammeter and voltmeter the researcher observes the circuit if it
varies, the changing of values affects the state of the circuit, using the dc interactive voltage
source it shows the varying of the given values. As the ammeter reads 0 amperes the
condition of the SCR is in a off state meaning the SCR is open, when we apply a higher than
1 volt the reading of he ammeter will increase from 0 to up therefore it simply states that the
SCR is in a On state. As the researcher observes the behavior of the circuit for every type of
SCR there’s an equivalent voltage and current value. In order to maintain the On state of the
SCR set the voltage into higher value that makes the ammeter reads a higher value of the
current.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. What is thyristor family?

-The diac (bidirectional diode thyristor), triac (bidirectional triode thyristor), SCR
(silicon controlled rectifier), Shockley diode, SCS (silicon controlled switch), SBS
(silicon bilateral switch), and SUS (silicon unilateral switch), also known as
complementary SCR or CSCR, are all members of the thyristor family.

2. What are the different family members of thyristor devices?

SCR- Silicon Controlled Rectifier

DIAC- Diode on Alternating Current

Triac- Triode for Alternating Current

SCS- Silicon Control Switch

SUS- Silicon Unilateral Switch

SBS- Silicon Bidirectional Switch

SIS- Silicon Induction Switch

LASCS- Light Activated Silicon Control Switch

LASCR- Light Activated Silicon Control Rectifier

SITh- Static Induction Thyristor

RCT- Reverse Conducting Thyristor

 GTO- Gate Turn-Off-Thyristor

MCT- MOSFET Controlled Thyristor

ETOs- Emitter Turn On Thyristor

3. What are the different modes of an SCR?

When a thyristor is turned on, the gate signal is detached, and the latching current is the
minimum amount of anode current required to keep the thyristor in the ON state.

This current is linked to the process of turning on the light. This current has a value of
two to three times that of holding current.

4. Define Latching current (IL).

When a thyristor is turned on, the gate signal is detached, and the latching current is the
minimum amount of anode current required to keep the thyristor in the ON state.
This current is linked to the process of turning on the light. This current has a value of
two to three times that of holding current. The lowest current is the SCR's Latching
current in forwarding bias, which the anode current must attain to stay in forwarding
conduction mode even after the gate current is disconnected. If the anode current is less
than this number, the SCR will not continue to operate in the forward direction if the
gate current is disconnected. Thus, when the current of the anode is higher than the
latching current, the gate terminal loses its power and it may be detached. Finally, the scr
will start to conduct.

5. Define Holding current (IH). Which will be larger either IL or IH?

 Latching current is larger than holding current, it is 2 or 3 times larger.
For various devices such as electronic, electrical, and electromagnetic devices, the
holding current is the least amount of current that should flow throughout a circuit to
keep it in the ‘ON' state. This is appropriate for a single switch, but not for a complete
device. A spark gap is the best illustration of current holding. In most basic circuits, the
circuit is shut off when the current flow falls below the holding current. Complex
devices and circuits, on the other hand, may have different delays between the time the
running current falls below this level and the time the device is turned off. The least
amount of current required for the anode current to drop to enter OFF mode in a thyristor
or SCR is known as holding current. This means that if the holding current is 5 mA, the
thyristor's anodes current must drop below 5 mA for the device to stop working.

6. What are the conditions for „Turn-On‟ of an SCR?

There are different ways or methods on how to Turn-On the gate of the (SCR) Silicon
Controlled Rectifier or also known as the Thyristor. The most simplest way to Turn the
Thyristor/Scr is the application of the gate signal into a forward biased condition. This type
of method to turn on the SCR is known as “gate triggering.”

PICTORIAL EVIDENCES:
CONCLUSION:
Silicon controlled rectifier is a semiconductor device that acts as a true electronic switch. It can
(figure below) the change alternating current into direct current. Nowadays lots of people used
electrical devices such as cellular phone, laptop, computer, television and the likes, these
examples are some of many devices and electronic components that uses diodes or basically the
Silicon Controlled Rectifier or also known as Thyristor. The researcher observes the behavior of
different types of thyristor and on how it affects into a circuit with two emf supply, the
researcher also draw an illustration of the curve characteristics of an SCR in the given circuit
with the help of the collected data’s. To sum up, as we live in a world where technology arise
and where the innovations and inventions continuously moving, this research will be useful and
helpful to the future researchers who wants to improve more the research topic and to gain more
knowledge for the better future of the world where technology takes place.