Electronics Engineering 5, Laboratory | December 18, 2017

Experiment No. 3
SCR DC Characteristics
Michelle Ann M. Leriorato
1
Electronics Engineering Department, University of Perpetual Help System Dalta
1,2
Manila, Philippines
[email protected]

Abstract— An SCR, or Silicon Controlled Rectifier, is a (if only in an on/off mode), and we refer to these as silicon-
semiconductor, or integrated circuit (IC), that allows the control controlled rectifiers, or SCRs.
of current using a small current. Basically, it is a simple direct
current (DC) light switch. More specifically, if you place an
available current on the cathode, a load on the drain, you can
switch the current on by applying a small current to the gate. To
The progression from Shockley diode to SCR is achieved
turn off the flow of current from the cathode to the drain, simply with one small addition, actually nothing more than a third
removing the current from the gate won't do it. You need to stop wire connection to the existing PNPN structure:
the flow of current to the cathode externally. SCR's will block
reverse current polarity and only allow correct polarity, which is
not very useful on AC circuits unless you are fine with 50% of the
voltage.

Index Terms— Silicon Controlled Rectifier, light switch,

cathode, polarity.

I. OBJECTIVES
To become familiar with the characteristics of the (SCR) If an SCR’s gate is left floating (disconnected), it behaves
silicon controlled rectifier and its cooperation. To measure the exactly as a Shockley diode. It may be latched by breakover
gate trigger voltage and the holding current of a typical SCR by voltage or by exceeding the critical rate of voltage rise between
using dc measurement methods. To demonstrate the dc power anode and cathode, just as with the Shockley diode. Dropout is
control of SCR by using typical rectification circuits. accomplished by reducing current until one or both internal
transistors fall into cutoff mode, also like the Shockley diode.
However, because the gate terminal connects directly to the base
II. MATERIALS NEEDED of the lower transistor, it may be used as an alternative means to
The following equipment and materi\als used in this latch the SCR. By applying a small voltage between gate and
experiment are: cathode, the lower transistor will be forced on by the resulting
base current, which will cause the upper transistor to conduct,
1 DC Supply with +15V output capability which then supplies the lower transistor’s base with current so
1 solderless breadboard that it no longer needs to be activated by a gate voltage. The
1 Digital Multimeter necessary gate current to initiate latch-up, of course, will be
1 4.7 kOhms resistor much lower than the current through the SCR from cathode to
anode, so the SCR does achieve a measure of amplification.
1 1 kOhm resistor
1 220 kOhm resistor
1 T1C106B SCR or equivalent IV. PROCEDURE
1 Push Button
Procedure: Testing an SCR with a Multimeter
1 500 kOhm Potentiometer
1. Using a multimeter, measure the resistance between
1 Set Connecting wires
each two leads of the SCR. Record each readings on
Table 1.
III. INTRODUCTION 2. From the results in table above, indicate which leads
Shockley diodes are curious devices, but rather correspond to the Anode, Cathode and Gate.
limited in application. Their usefulness may be expanded, Lead 1Anode
Lead 2Cathode
however, by equipping them with another means of latching.
Lead 3 Gate
In doing so, each becomes true amplifying devices
 Electronics Engineering 5, Laboratory | December 18, 2017
7. Based on the results in question 4, what can you say
TABLE 1 about the SCR? SCR acts as constant voltage source.
Lead 1 Lead 2 Lead 3 Resistance
+ - 23.278 Mohms 8. Release S1. Is there any change? Why? None.
+ - 23.277 Mohms
- + 22.987 Mohms 9.Remove the connection at the voltage source and
+ - 27.299 Mohms immediately replace it. What is the condition of the
- + 22.987 Mohms SCR? Why is the condition so?
- + 27.299 Mohms

Part 2
3. Connect the circuit
4. Using your multimeter, measure the voltage across
SCR.What is the voltage level shown? 6.872

5. Using your multimeter, measure the voltage across 220-ohm

resistor. From this reading, can we say that the current is passing
through the anode terminal? 127.824 mV. Yes, but minimal
only.

Part 3: Gate Voltage and Holding Current

10. Construct the same circuit as Figure 1 but instead

6. Measure the voltage across 220 ohm and the SCR. Press S1 of a push button replace it with a 500k ohms
and don’t release it. What happens to the voltage at 220 ohms potentiometer (R3) in Figure 2.
and the SCR? 127.826mV(220 ohms) 6.872V(SCR). Almost
the same and the difference is negligible. 11. Measure Vak and Vgt with multimeter. What is the
condition of the SCR?
 Electronics Engineering 5, Laboratory | December 18, 2017
IV. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
12. Slowly Rotate R3 clockwise until the SCR turns 1. How can you diffentiate an SCR to an ordinary diode?
on. How do you know that the SCR is on?
Diode is the simplest semiconductor device and it
consists of two semiconductor layers (one P-type and
one N-type) connected to each other. Therefore diode
is a PN junction. Diode has two terminals known as
the anode (the P-type layer) and cathode (the N-type
layer).Diode allows current flows through it only in
one direction that is anode to cathode. This direction
of current is marked on its symbol as an arrow head.
Since diode restricts the current to only one direction,
it can be used as a rectifier. The full bridge rectifier
circuit which is made of four diodes can rectify an
alternative current (AC) to a direct current (DC).

15. Using the same circuit above, you will find the
holding current (IH). Connect the circuit according to
Figure 3. Set R3 for minimum resistance. Turn on the SCR is a type of thyristor and widely used in current
SCR using S1. rectification applications. SCR is made of four
alternating semiconductor layers (in the form of P-N-
16. By how much does the voltage drop across the 220 P-N) and therefore consists of three PN junctions. In
ohms resistor? analysis, this is considered as a tightly coupled pair of
BJTs (one PNP and other in NPN configuration). The
outermost P and N type semiconductor layers are
called anode and cathode respectively. Electrode
connected to inner P type semiconductor layer is
known as the ‘gate’.

2. What are the best SCR firing condition?

Gate triggering: This form of SCR triggering is the
one that is most commonly seen in the different
circuits used. It is simple, reliable, efficient and also
easy to implement for most applications - a simple
trigger signal can be applied, with suitable processing
if required. This means that other electronic circuits
can be used to derive a suitable trigger signal and this
can then be applied to the SCR.
17.Calculate the anode current (IA= V4/R4).
581.018uA For gate SCR triggering to be used, the SCR must
operate below its breakdown voltage, and a suitable
safety margin also allowed to accommodate any
transients that may occur. Otherwise forward voltage
or breakdown triggering may occur.

To turn-on of an SCR, a positive gate voltage between

gate and cathode. This gives rise to a gate current
where charges are injected into the inner p layer of the
device. This effectively reduces the voltage at which
forward break-over occurs. It can be gathered that the
gate current determines the forward voltage at which
the device switches to its conducting state. Higher the
gate current, the lower the forward break-over voltage.
3. Explain the two techniques in turning the SCR off.
18. Find the holding current. To find IH, Increase R3 To turn OFF the conducting SCR the below conditions must
slowly while monitoring Vak. When the SCR turns off, be satisfied.
reverse R3 slightly and turn on the SCR again using
S1. Make sure that the SCR is turned on.  The anode or forward current of SCR must be reduced
to zero or below the level of holding current and then,
19.Be sure that R3 is at its highest possible value with
 A sufficient reverse voltage must be applied across the
SCR on. Calculate the anode current IA. IA at this point
SCR to regain its forward blocking state.
is the IH.
When the SCR is turned OFF by reducing forward current to
zero. There exist excess charge carriers in different layers. To
 Electronics Engineering 5, Laboratory | December 18, 2017
regain the forward blocking state of an SCR, these excess This experiment would not have been possible without the
carriers must be recombined. Therefore, this recombination kind support and help of my classmates and my professor. I
process is accelerated by applying a reverse voltage across the would like to extend my sincere thanks to them.
SCR.
I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my
professor, Engr. Ronnie S. Conception who helped me in doing
the experiment and teaching me the basics since I just got back
4. For increasing the level of IG, what is the effect of the after 1 year of not attending school. A refresher is truly needed
holding current? and Engr. Ronnie S. Conception made it easier for me.
The holding current (hypostatic) for electrical,
electromagnetic and electronic devices is the
REFERENCES
minimum current which must pass through a circuit
in order for it to remain in the 'ON' state.[1][2] The [1]http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/power-
term can be applied to a single switch or to an entire management/linear-power-supply-psu/series-voltage-
device. A simple example of holding current is in regulator-theory-circuit.php
a Spark gap. [2]http://www.circuitstoday.com/voltage-regulators
[3]http://www.learnabout-electronics.org/PSU/psu22.php
In the most basic of circuits, if the current falls below [4]https://www.lifewire.com/types-of-voltage-regulators-
the holding current even briefly, the circuit is turned 818851
'OFF' (becomes blocked). However, complex circuits [5]http://www.onmyphd.com/?p=voltage.regulators.linear.seri
and devices may have different delays built-in es
between the time the current falls below this level and
the time the device turns 'OFF'. Whether a device
turns 'ON' when current is restored is a design issue.
The current necessary to restore the circuit to the 'ON'
state, called the "threshold current" (See threshold
voltage), may be much greater than the holding
current, or only very slightly more.

V. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
NPN and PNP doesn’t have much difference in Vz; as
NPN=4.674v and PNP=4.627v. More than 50% is the
percentage difference of PNP and NPN. NPN decreases more
voltage than PNP in their output. Measuring Vo; in NPN and
PNP, as voltage increases, the voltage output also increases of
approximately .2 to 0.6 depending on the voltage given.
Measuring Iz, in NPN, as the voltage increases, the current of
the zener also increases not less than 2% and not more than 3%
but in PNP, approximately the increase is not less than 4% and
more than 5%. Measuring IL in NPN, current load increases
constantly by 4% to 5% alternately. While in PNP, the current
increases by 3% to 6% depending on the voltage as it increases.
In table 3, we get the current load by changing its percentage
and what we got is a decreasing current. While the output
voltage increases and the Iz is almost constant because of very
small change.
VI. CONCLUSION
In obtaining Vo, Vz has to be subtracted from the value
of VBE. If current increases, Vout decreases from this VBE and
current through transistor increases too, it provides additional
current that regulates Vout. Any increase in IL causes a small
increase in base current. This causes Vbe to increase that result
in a decrease of Vout. Since base current increases with load,
the Iz will decrease too, that a large change in Iz will cause a
very small change in Vz that slightly affects Vbe and Vo. Any
change at the output will slightly change the loading on input
circuit.

Acknowledgment