SCR CHARACTERISTICS

OBJECTIVES:
To study the I-V characteristics of an SCR and determine the break over voltage, holding current,
on resistance and latching current of the device.

DISCUSSION:
An SCR is a semiconductor electronic device of the thyristor family. It has 4 layers of
semiconductor material (2 P- type and 2 N – type) formed in a P-N-P-N sequence. This is the
reason why SCRs are also called PNPN devices. An SCR has three terminals, Anode (A),
Cathode (K), and Gate (G).

The SCR is considered as a rectifier, so it is similar in operation to the rectifier diode. Like the
diode, the SCR is a unilateral device. This means that it can only conduct current in one direction.
When an SCR is in the ON-state, the resistance between the anode and cathode terminals is very
low. Thus, in the ON-state the SCR behaves as a closed switch. When the SCR is in the OFF-
state, the resistance between the anode and cathode terminals is very high. Thus, in the OFF-state
the SCR behaves as an open switch. Once a suitable signal is applied to the gate, the SCR turns
ON. Once the SCR is turned ON, it stays ON even though the triggering signal applied to the
gate terminal is no longer present. The SCR can be turned OFF again by cutting of the supply of
the entire circuit or by shorting the anode and cathode so that the current through the SCR is
bypassed.

MATERIALS:
SCR 2N3669/ 2N1595 Voltmeter Ammeter
Resistors Power Supplies

CHARACTERISTIC CURVE:

Figure 1-1

EXPERIMENT NO. 1: SCR CHARACTERISTICS Page 1 of 5

 PROCEDURE:

Finding the Forward Break over Voltage

1. Build the circuit shown in Figure 1-2.

Figure 1-2

2. Set a convenient value for the gate current IG1 (0-2 mA) by adjusting gate voltage VGG and
gate resistor RG.
3. Gradually increase your anode-cathode voltage VAA from 0 to 100 volts with a step of 2 volts,
take note of the corresponding values of VAK and IA in Table 1-1. Also, note down the
approximate values of VAK and IA at the instant the SCR fires and after firing.
4. The point at which the SCR fires and start conducting corresponds to the value of the forward
break over voltage VBO.
5. Calculate the value of on state resistance using the formula:

∆𝑉𝐴𝐾
𝑅𝑂𝑁−𝑆𝑇𝐴𝑇𝐸 = Ω
∆𝐼𝐴

6. Sketch the VAK vs IA curve as accurately as possible up to the forward break over voltage.

Finding the Latching Current

7. Ensure that the SCR is in the state of conduction.

8. Start reducing the anode-cathode voltage VAA in steps while simultaneously checking the
state of the SCR by switching off the gate voltage VGG. If the SCR switches off just by
removing the gate voltage VGG, and switches on by connecting back the gate voltage VGG,
then the corresponding anode current IA is the latching current IL.
9. Indicate the value of the latching current to the sketched curve.

EXPERIMENT NO. 1: SCR CHARACTERISTICS Page 2 of 5

 Finding the Holding Current

10. Ensure that the SCR is in the state of conduction.

11. Switch off the gate voltage VGG permanently.
12. Start reducing the anode-cathode voltage VAA in steps while simultaneously checking the
state of the SCR. If the SCR switches off, note down the anode current IA just before it drops
to zero which corresponds to your holding current IH.
13. Indicate the value of the holding current IH to the sketched curve.
14. Repeat the above procedures for IG2 and IG3.

TABLES:

IG1 =………... mA IG2 =………... mA IG3 =………... mA

RON1 =…….... Ω RON2 =……… Ω RON3 =…….... Ω

Table 1-1

VAK (Volts) IA (mA) VAK (Volts) IA (mA) VAK (Volts) IA (mA)

EXPERIMENT NO. 1: SCR CHARACTERISTICS Page 3 of 5

 PLOT:

QUESTIONS:

1. What is a forward break over voltage?

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2. What is a reverse break over voltage?

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 4. Why should the gate signal be removed after turn on?

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5. What are the advantages of using an SCR?

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6. What are the disadvantages of using an SCR?

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7. Differentiate holding current and latching current?

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CONCLUSION:

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Performed by:
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Laboratory Instructor

EXPERIMENT NO. 1: SCR CHARACTERISTICS Page 5 of 5