SCR Characteristics

Objective:-
To Plot and study the Characteristics of Silicon Controlled Rectifier
Upon completion of this lab you should be able to:
 Design a circuit to study the characteristics of SCR using 2N1599
Thyristor
 Multisim Simulation

Circuit Description:-
The silicon controlled rectifier or SCR is a very useful component and can be
used to produce many different circuits. In view of its properties, the SCR is
used in many power switching circuits as the device is able to handle large
current levels.

Theory Section:-
Circuit to draw the Characteristics of SCR:-

Figure 6.1: Circuit to draw the VI Characteristics of SCR

The Silicon Controlled rectifier, or SCR, is one of several semiconductor

devices which are capable of acting as fast switches for large currents. The
general name for these devices is Thyristor. The SCR resembles a rectifier diode
but if the anode is held positive relative to the cathode no current flows until a
positive current is injected into the gate. The diode then switches on and will
not switch off until the anode - cathode voltage is removed or thyristor current
IT or IAK becomes less than the holding current value, hence the name
Controlled Rectifier. fig 6.2 shows the pin diagram of 2N1599
SCR can handle high currents and are used in industrial power control. Low
current applications include house hold fan speed control and lamp dimmer etc.
Following are some definitions realted to the silicon-controlled rectifier SCR.
 Breakover voltage is the minimum forward voltage (gate being open), at which
SCR starts conducting heavily i.e. turned on. Thus, if the breakover voltage of an
SCR is 200 V, it means that it can block a forward voltage (i.e. SCR remains
open) as long as the supply voltage is less than 200 V. If the supply voltage is
more than this value, then SCR will start conducting.

Figure 6.2:-2N1599

 Peak reverse voltage (PRV) is the maximum reverse voltage that can be
applied to an SCR without conduction in the reverse direction. PRV is an
important consideration while connecting an SCR in an AC circuits. During
the negative half of AC supply, reverse voltage is applied across SCR. If PRV
is exceed, there may be avalanche breakdown and the SCR or external circuit
may get damaged. Commercially available SCRs have PRV ratings upto 2.5
kV.

 On state resistance RON_STATE is the resistance offered to the current

flowing from anode to cathode during ON state. It is calculated by using the
VI characteristic graph by using the following formula:

 Latching current IL is the minimum anode to cathode current, which (in the
presence of a suitable gate current) will ensure a change from OFF state to
fully ON state. Thereafter, the SCR will keep conducting even in the absence
 of the gate current, provided the anode-cathode current does not fall below
holding current.

 Holding current once conducting the only way an SCR can be switched OFF
is to reduce that anode – cathode current below a critical value called “Holding
current”. Holding current will be less than the latching current (See fig. 6.6).
Thus, if an SCR has a holding current of 5mA, it means that if anode-cathode
current is made less than 5mA, then SCR will be turned off.

 Forward current rating is the maximum anode current that an SCR is

capable of passing without destruction. Every SCR has a safe value of forward
current, which it can conduct. If the value of current exceeds this value, the
SCR may be destroyed due to intensive heating at the junctions.

Practical Section:-
Open/Create Schematic

To create a new schematic click on File – New – Schematic Capture. To

save the schematic click on File /Save As. To open an existing file click on File/
Open in the toolbar.

Place Components

To Place Components click on Place/Components. On the Select

Component Window click on Group to select the components needed for the
circuit. Click OK to place the component on the schematic figure 2.
 Figure 2: click on Place Components Figure 3: Select 2N1599

Figure 4: Select DC Power Figure 5: Select IRF520

Figure 5: Select Resistor (1K&100 Ohm)

Place Wire/Connect Components:

I connect the component according to the circuit then I connect with wire

Grounding:
Ground circuit is very necessary because without the ground circuit not work
properly.

GROUND

Simulation: ;
Student’s Exercise:-
The Purpose of this lab is to learn the characteristics of SCR
In this case we simulate the circuit Figure 6

Set the value in Dc sweep by clicking simulate Analyses and simulation

Here I set
After this click save then click Run

Report Requirements
1- Multisim program.