I-V CHARACTERISTICS OF SCR, DIAC, TRIAC.

Name: - Shouvik Mitra, Roll No: -2019/UG/028

UG-5, SEM-5 BS-MS SPS, Subject- Electronic Pratical.

I-V CHARACTERISTICS OF SCR:

Aim: - To plot the I-V characteristics of SCR.
Apparatus:- DC Power Supply, Voltmeter, SCR 2N1595, Digital Multimeter,
Ammeters, Resistors.
Theory: -
Thyristor Characteristics: -
A thyristor is a four-layer semiconductor device of PNPN structure with three PN
junctions. It has three terminal anode, cathode and gate. When the anode voltage
is made positive with respect to cathode, the junctions J1 and J3 are forward
biased. The junctions J2 is reversed biased and, only a small leakage current flows
from anode to cathode. The thyristor is then said to be in the OFF mode. If a
anode to cathode voltage is increased to a sufficiently large value, the reversed
biased junction J2 will break. This is Known as avalanche breakdown and the
corresponding voltage is called forward breakdown voltage V BO. Since junctions
J1 and J3 are already forward biased, there will be free movement of carriers
across all three junctions, resulting in a large anode current. The device will be in
a conducting state or on state. The voltage drop would be due to the ohmic drop
in the four layers and it is small, typically, 1V. In the on state, the anode current is
limited by an external impedance or resistance.
Latching current is the minimum anode current required to maintain the thyristor
in the on state immediately after the thyristor has been turned on and the gate
signal has been removed. Once the thyristor is turned on, 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 junction J2 due to the free
movements of the carriers. However if the forward anode current is reduced
below a level known as the holding current, a depletion layer will develop around
the junction J2, due to reduced number of carriers and the thyristor will be in the
blocking state. Holding current is the minimum anode current required to
maintain the thyristor in the on state. Holding current is less than latching
current. A thyristor can be turned on by increasing the forward voltage VAK
beyond VBO, but such a turn on could be destructive. In practice, the forward
voltage is maintained below VBO and the thyristor is turned on by applying a
positive voltage between its gate and cathode. Once a thyristor is turned on by a
gating signal and its anode current is greater than holding current, the device
continues to conduct due to positive feedback, even if the gating signal is
removed.
Procedure:-
A.Forward Blocking State/OFF State:
1. Connect the circuit as shown in the figure.
2. Keep SCR gate open.
 3. Vary the voltage between anode & cathode by changing supply V 2.
4. To find the leakage current, keep gate open and increase voltage V 2 to firing
value. A small magnitude of current will flow through the device which is
called leakage current will flow throught the device which is called leakage
current IL.
5. Note down the voltage & current and find out the drop across SCR.
B.Forward Conducting State/ON state
1. Connect the gate of the SCR to supply V1.
2. Adjust gate current by changing V2 and find the firing voltage of SCR.
3. Switch of the V1 supply. Increase V2 slowly, note down IA. Now reduce the
voltage between anode and cathode by changing V2. Note down the
holding current IH at which the SCR turns off.
4. Repeat the step 1 to 3 for different values of Ig .
5. Plot the graph.
Circuit Diagram:
Observation:
OFF State:
Voltage Applied V across SCR (V) I (mA)
0 0 0
10 9.98 0.0212
25 24.95 0.05408
35 34.92 0.07601
45 44.9 0.09795
50 49.89 0.10892
51 0.56216 50.44
52 0.56307 51.44
55 0.56573 54.43
60 0.570 59.43
-5 -4.99 -0.01032
-10 -9.98 -0.02126
-15 -14.97 -0.03221
-20 -19.96 -0.04317
-25 -24.95 -0.05413
-40 -39.91 -0.08703
-50 -49.89 -0.10897
-55 -54.88 -0.11994
-57 -55.66 -1.34
-60 -55.69 -4.31
-65 -55.71 -9.21

ON State:
Ig = 8.92mA
Applied Voltage(V) Voltage(mV) Current(mA)
5 481.61 4.52
10 502.6 9.5
15 515.51 14.48
 20 525.1 19.47
25 533.06 24.47
30 539.86 29.46
35 545.91 34.45
40 551.41 39.45
45 556.49 44.44

Gate triggering voltage= 1.5V

Latching Current= 2.24mA

Graph:

I-V CHARACTERISTICS OF DIAC

Aim: To find I-V characteristics of DIAC
Apparatus: DC Power Supply, Voltmeter, DIAC D30, Digital Multimeter,
Ammeters, Resistors.
Circuit Diagram:

Theory:
The DIAC is a diode that conducts electrical current only after its break over
voltage, VBO, has been reached momentarily. The term is an acronym of diode for
alternating current.When breakdown occurs, the diode enters a region of
negative dynamic resistance, leading to a decrease in the voltage drop across the
diode and, usually, a sharp increase in current through the diode. The diode
remains in conduction until the current through it drops below a value
characteristic for the device, called the holding current, IH. Below this value, the
diode switches back to its high-resistance, non-conducting state. This behavior is
bidirectional, meaning typically the same for both directions of current.Most
DIACs have a three-layer structure with breakover voltage of approximately 30 V.
Their behavior is similar to that of a neon lamp, but it can be more precisely
controlled and takes place at a lower voltage. DIACs have no gate electrode,
unlike some other thyristors that they are commonly used to trigger, such as
TRIACs. Some TRIACs, like Quadrac, contain a built-in DIAC in series with the
TRIAC's gate terminal for this purpose. DIACs are also called symmetrical trigger
diodes due to the symmetry of their characteristic curve. Because DIACs are
bidirectional devices, their terminals are not labeled as anode and cathode but as
A1 and A2 or main terminal MT1 and MT2.
Procedure:
a. The connections are made as shown in the circuit diagram.
b. Initially DIAC is connected in forward direction.
c. The input supply is increased in step by step by varying the voltage of power
supply.
d. The corresponding ammeter and voltmeter readings are noted and tabulated.
e. Then the DIAC is connected in reverse condition.
f. The above process is repeated.
Observation: -
Forward Biased
Voltage(V) Current(mA)
1 1
5 8.05
10 16.94
15 25.85
16 27.63
17 6.28
20 7.42
25 9.32
30 11.22
40 15.01
45 16.91
50 18.82
60 22.62
70 26.42
80 30.22

Reversed Biased
Voltage(V) Current(mA)
-1 -1
-5 -8.05
-10 -16.94
-15 -25.85
-16 -27.63
-17 -6.28
-20 -7.42
-25 -9.32
-30 -11.22
 -40 -15.01
-45 -16.91
-50 -18.82
-60 -22.62
-70 -26.42
-80 -30.22

Graph:

Results:
Thus we studied the I-V characteristics of DIAC.
 I-V CHARACTERISTICS OF TRIAC
Aim: To study the characteristics of TRIAC.
Apparatus: DC Power Supply, Voltmeter, TRIAC 2N5444, Digital Multimeter,
Ammeters, Resistors.
Circuit Diagram:

Theory:
TRIAC, from triode for alternating current, is a generalized trade name for an
electronic component that can conduct current in either direction when it is
triggered (turned on), and is formally called a bidirectional triode thyristor or
bilateral triode thyristor. TRIACs are a subset of thyristors and are closely related
to silicon controlled rectifiers (SCR). However, unlike SCRs, which are
unidirectional devices (that is, they can conduct current only in one direction),
TRIACs are bidirectional and so allow current in either direction. Another
difference from SCRs is that TRIAC current can be enabled by either a positive or
negative current applied to its gate electrode, whereas SCRs can be triggered only
by positive current into7 the gate. To create a triggering current, a positive or
negative voltage has to be applied to the gate with respect to the MT1 terminal
(otherwise known as A1). Once triggered, the device continues to conduct until
the current drops below a certain threshold called the holding current. The
directionality makes TRIACs very convenient switches for alternating-current (AC)
circuits, also allowing them to control very large power flows with milliampere-
scale gate currents. In addition, applying a trigger pulse at a controlled phase
angle in an AC cycle allows control of the percentage of current that flows
through the TRIAC to the load (phase control), which is commonly used, for
example, in controlling the speed of low-power induction motors, in dimming
lamps, and in controlling AC heating resistors.
Procedure:-
A.Forward Blocking State/OFF State:
1. Connect the circuit as shown in the figure.
2. Keep TRIAC gate open.
3. Vary the voltage between two terminals by changing supply V 2.
4. To find the leakage current, keep gate open and increase voltage V 2 to firing
value. A small magnitude of current will flow through the device which is
called leakage current will flow throught the device which is called leakage
current IL.
5. Note down the voltage & current and find out the drop across TRIAC.
B.Forward Conducting State/ON state
6. Connect the gate of the TRIAC to supply V1.
7. Adjust gate current by changing V2 and find the firing voltage of TRIAC.
 8. Switch of the V1 supply. Increase V2 slowly, note down IA. Now reduce the
voltage between anode and cathode by changing V2. Note down the
holding current IH at which the TRIAC turns off.
9. Repeat the step 1 to 3 for different values of Ig .
10. Plot the graph.

Observation:
OFF State:
Voltage(V) Current(mA)
4.99 0.131
9.97 0.2733
19.94 0.55768
24.93 0.69996
29.92 0.84228
33.9 0.95614
35.45 1
39.89 1.13
44.87 1.27
49.86 1.41
54.84 1.55
59.83 1.7
-4.99 -0.131
-9.97 -0.2733
-19.94 -0.55768
-24.93 -0.69996
-29.92 -0.84228
-33.9 -0.95614
-35.45 -1
-39.89 -1.13
-44.87 -1.27
-49.86 -1.41
-54.84 -1.55
-59.83 -1.7
ON State:
Voltage Current
4.99 44.6
9.97 94.4
19.94 194.2
24.93 244.13
29.92 294.07
33.9 334.03
35.45 349.52
39.89 393.98
44.87 443.94
49.86 493.91
54.84 543.87
59.83 593.84

Gate Voltage=69V
Gate Current=67.08mA
Graph:
Results:
We get the I-V characteristics of TRIAC.
Precautions:
1. We should connect the circuit correctly.
2. We should over connect the wires in the circuit.
3. During simulation one should change the circuit.