LAB EXPERIMENT # 01

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE:
Upon successful completion of this experiment, the student will be able
 To understand the Voltage-Current characteristics of Silicon Controlled Rectifier by using (a) Kit
(b) Multisim
EQUIPMENTS:
 Oscilloscope
 Multi-meter
 Power Supply
 C-20 Kit
THEORY:
SCR is an abbreviation of Silicon Controlled rectifier. It is also called thyristor which conducts only in
one direction. The most important purpose of an SCR is to function as an electrical switch. The SCR
is a combination of two transistors (PNP & NPN) and it is a four layer device. An SCR has three
junctions J1, J2 and J3 and having three terminals. Three terminals are anode (A), cathode (K) and
gate (G). The main function of gate is used to control the voltage until the break-over voltage
occurs. SCR can be used in speed control motor, water level alarm and timer circuits.
SCR BASIC STRUCTURE:
Figure 1.1 shows the SCR symbol and the sectional view of three PN-junctions and the transistor
equivalent circuit is shown in figure 1.2.

Figure 1.1 SCR Schematic and Sectional View

 Figure 1.2 SCR Transistor Equivalent Circuits
The transistor equivalent of an SCR is constructed from two transistors, one PNP and one NPN. The
cathode is emitter of T2, the gate is the base of T2 and collector of T1, and anode is the emitter of
T1. When this configuration operates, the collector of T2 drives T1’s base and collector of T1
provides the current for the base of T2 which provides the feedback to T1. The current gain of the
feedback loop is product of the current gain of T1 and T2. When Q2 is cut off, the current gain of
the feedback loop is less than unity.
The application of positive current to the gate biases T2 into conduction. T2’s conduction increases
the current from the collector T2 to the base of T1. As the collector current of T2 increases, a point
reached where the current gain of the feedback loop is unity. At that point, called the breakdown
point, the feedback becomes regenerative.
The collector currents of both transistors increase rapidly. The result is that both transistors drive
into saturation point. The gate now has no effect on circuit operation. That is because the collector
of T1 acts as a switch current source for T2. The only way to turn off the circuit is to remove power
or decrease collector below the required point for conduction.
ANODE VOLTAGE POSITIVE WITH RESPECT TO CATHODE:
When the anode voltage is made positive with respect to the cathode, the junctions J1 and J3 are
forward biased while the junction J2 is reversed biased, and only small leakage current flows from
anode to cathode. The SCR is then said to be in forward blocking or off-state conduction and the
leakage current is known as off-state current. If the anode-to-cathode voltage VAK is increased to a
sufficiently large value J2 breakdown occurs and the corresponding voltage is called Forward
Breakdown Voltage VBO (it is the voltage which is necessary to start the conduction of SCR without
gate pulse). Since the other junctions J1 and J3 are already forward biased, there will be free
movement of carriers across all three junctions, resulting in a large forward anode current Ia.
The device will be in a conducting state or On-state. The anode current Ia must be more than a
value known as Latching current IL, in order to maintain the required amount of carrier flow across
the junction: otherwise, the device will revert to the blocking condition as the anode-to-cathode
voltage is reduced. Latching current IL is the minimum anode current required to maintain the SCR
in the ON-State.
Once SCR conducts, it behaves like a conducting diode and there is no control over the device. The
device will continue to conduct because there is no depletion layer on the J2 due to free
movements of carriers. The method used to open SCR is called Anode Current Interruption. If the
forward anode current is reduced below a level known as Holding Current IH, a depletion region will
develop around the J2 due to reduced number of carriers and SCR will be in blocking state. Holding
Current IH is the minimum anode current to maintain the SCR in the ON-State. The IH is less than
the IL.
CATHODE VOLTAGE POSITIVE WITH RESOECT TO ANODE:
When the cathode voltage is positive with respect to the anode, the J2 is forward biased, but J1 and
J3 are reversed biased. The SCR will be in the reverse blocking state and a reverse leakage current
known as Reverse Current IR would flow through the device.
V-I CHARACTERISTICS OF SCR:
It is the curve between anode-to-cathode voltage anode current (I) of SCR at gate current constant.
FORWARD CHARACTERISTICS OF SCR:
When anode is positive with respect to cathode between V and I is called forward characteristics. In
fig 1.3 OABC are forward characteristics at Ig gate current constant. If increase the supply voltage
from zero then little current increases until the voltage reached on VBO (point A to B). When SCR
starts to conduct, under this condition the voltage across from SCR suddenly drops as shown in
point A to B from SCR then SCR starts conduct from point B to C.

REVERSE CHARACTERISTICS OF SCR:

When anode is negative with respect to cathode, the curve between V and I is called reverse
characteristics. The reverse voltage does come across when it is operated with a.c. supply. If reverse
is gradually increased, at first the anode current remains (leakage current) and at some reverse
voltage, avalanche breakdown occurs and the SCR starts to conduct heavily in the reverse direction
as shown by the curve DE. This minimum reverse voltage at which SCR starts to conduct heavily is
known as reverse breakdown voltage.

Figure 1.3 V-I

Characteristic of SCR
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

Connect the circuit connection as shown in Fig 1.4. Take the readings by using multi-meters.

Figure 1.4 Circuit Diagram of SCR

OBSERVATION TABLE: Fill in the following table.

S.No Vs (Supply Voltage) Ig (Gate Current) VAK (Anode- Ia (Anode IH (Holding

Cathode Current) Current)
Voltage)

1. 5V

2. 10V

3. 12V

4. 15V

5. 18V

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) What are the difference between diode rectifier and SCR?

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2) What is difference between Latching current and Holding current?

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3) What are the methods to turn on and off the SCR?

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4) What are the applications of SCR?

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