BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND FINE ARTS

ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Experiment 2

Silicon-Controlled Rectifier

Submitted by:

Briones, Anne Margaret R.

Catilo, John Carlo A.

Magundayao, Ian Devin S.

ECE 4102

Submitted to:

Dr. Gil B. Barte

Instructor

September 1, 2015
I. OBJECTIVE:
1. Demonstrate a practical do/no go methods of testing an SCR with
ohmmeter.
2. Show the turn-on (fire) and turn-off (reset) methods for an SCR.
3. Determine the electrical characteristics of a particular SCR.
4. Define the various SCR parameters.

INTRODUCTION:

The PN junction from gate to cathode of an SCR can be tested

with an ohmmeter similar to a regular diode. However, testing from
anode to gate will not indicate if an SCR is working properly,
because one of the PN junction is always reverse biased. The SCR
can be tested an ohmmeter by placing the positive lead on the
anode and the negative lead on the cathode with the gate left open.
The meter should read high or infinite resistance. Placing a clip lead
from the anode or positive lead of the ohmmeter to the gate
triggers the SCR and the meter should indicate low resistance.
When the clip lead is removed, the meter continues to indicate low
resistance if the power source is sufficient to produce the required
holding current.

To conduct, the SCR must have its anode more positive than its
cathode. When the gate voltage is made more positive than its
cathode, the SCR turns on fires and current flows from cathode to
anode. When the gate voltage is again made equal to or more
negative than the cathode, current continues to flow through the
SCR. The SCR is turned off or reset by reducing the current through
it below its holding current.

II. MATERIALS NEEDED:

1 Fixed +12-V power supply
1 Standard or digital voltmeter
1 5060 SCR
1 1 k resistor at 0.5 W (R1)
1 10 k resistor at 0.5 W (RG)
1 22 k resistor at 0.5 W (RA)
2 SPDT switches (S1 and S2)
1 Breadboard for constructing circuit

PART I: TESTING AN SC AN OHMMETER

1. Set the ohmmeter to the midrange scale.

2. Connect the ohmmeter to the SCR as shown in figure 4.1 and record
the meter reading in table 4.1
PART II: OPERATION OF AN SCR

1. Construct the circuit shown in figure 4.2.

2. Set switches S1 and S2 as indicated and then apply power to the
circuit.
3. In the first row of the data table 1.3 (Simulation) and 1.4 (Actual),
record the values of VG and VA.
4. Move S1 to position B and record the values of VG and VA in the
second row of the data table.
5. Move S1 to position A and record the values of VG and VA in the
fourth row of the data table.
6. Move S2 to position B and record the values of VG and VA in the
fourth row of the data table.
7. Move S1 to position A and record the values of VG and VA in the
fourth row of the data table.
III. RESULTS

PART I: TESTING AN SCR WITH AN OHMMETER

Table 1.1: Ohmmeter Reading (Simulation)

Gate (G) Anode (A) Cathode (K) Reading ( H or

L)
None Positive Negative L
Positive Positive Negative H
None Negative Positive

Table 1.2: Ohmmeter Reading (Actual)

Gate (G) Anode (A) Cathode (K) Reading ( H or

L)
None Positive Negative L
Positive Positive Negative H
None Negative Positive L

1. An SCR will have high resistance before being triggered.

2. An SCR will have low resistance before after triggered.
3. The anode-to-cathode resistance of an SCR can be checked like a
normal diode.
4. An SCR is being tested with an ohmmeter. When the clip lead on the
gate is removed, the meter indicates high resistance. This does not
prove that the SCR is defective, but that the power source of the meter
is not sufficient to produce the necessary triggering current through
the device.

PART II. OPERATION OF AN SCR

Table 1.3: (Simulation in Multisim)

S1 S2 VG VA Condition of
Condition Condition SCR
(on or off)
A A 1.2 mV 11.996 V On
B A 823.476 mV 10.384 mV Off
A A 1.2 mV 11.996 V On
A B 1.2 mV 12 V On
A A 1.2 mV 10.385 mV On

Table 1.4: (Actual)

S1 S2 VG VA Condition of
 Condition Condition SCR
(on or off)
A A 2mV 11.9V On
B A 11.3V 11.9V Off
A A 0.6mV 11.9V On
A B 3mV 11.9V On
A A 2mV 11.95V On

1. Before firing, the voltage from anode to ground of the SCR is equal to
0V.
2. When the gate is made more positive the SCR fires and IAK.
3. Once the SCR fires, the gate loses control and the current is allowed to
flow through the SCR.
4. When the SCR is conducting, the voltage from the anode to ground is
equal to Vcc.
5. The SCR can be turned off by reducing the current through it below its
holding current.

IV. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS:

Simulation in Multisim:

Fig. 1.1: Switch Condition (S1: A, S2: A)

Fig. 1.2: Switch Condition (S1: B, S2: A)

Fig. 1.3: Switch Condition (S1: A, S2: A)

Fig. 1.4: Switch Condition (S1: A, S2: B)

 Fig. 1.5: Switch Condition (S1: A, S2: A)

The figure above shows every switching conditions. The obtained

values from the experimental and actual are somewhat close. They cannot
be exactly the same because there are little internal resistance in the actual
components during the implementation which is caused by the
manufacturers.

V.QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS:

1. The letters SCR stand for silicon-controlled things must happen to

cause an SCR rectifier. Explain the use of the word rectifier in the
name.
Rectifiers are used in SCR in order to converts alternating current
(AC), which periodically reverses direction, to direct current (DC), which
flows in only one direction.
2. What two things must happen to cause an SCR to fire?
Voltage on the gate must exceed the turn-on threshold of the
SCR. Second is to maintain a minimum holding current from anode to
cathode. Once turned on, the SCR will remain self-latched in the on
state until the current through the anode and cathode falls below the
minimum self-holding current.
3. What is the difference between triggering gate current and holding
current?
Triggering gate current is the value of gate current necessary to
switch the SCR from the forward-blocking region to the forward-
conduction region under specified condition while holding current is
 the value of the anode current below which the SCR switches from the
forward-conduction region to the forward-blocking region.
4. How much voltage across the anode-cathode terminals of a medium-
power SCR after it has fired?
After firing the SCR, the Voltage from anode to cathode will be
equal to Vcc.

5. How can an SCR be made to conduct?

The gate must be triggered and it can be also be turned on by
significantly raising the temperature of the device or raising the
anode-cathode voltage to the break over value.
6. How can an SCR be turned off?
There are two general methods for turning off an SCR. First is by
anode current interruption and second is the forced-commutation
technique. Forced commutation is the forcing of current though the
SCR in the direction opposite to forward conduction.