The functional drawback of a thyristor is that, like a diode, it only conducts in one direction.

A similar
self-latching 5-layer device, called aTRIAC, is able to work in both directions. This added capability,
though, also can become a shortfall. Because the TRIAC can conduct in both
directions, reactive loads can cause it to fail to turn off during the zero-voltage instants of
the AC power cycle. Because of this, use of TRIACs with (for example) heavily inductive motor loads
usually requires the use of a "snubber" circuit around the TRIAC to assure that it will turn off with
each half-cycle of mains power. Inverse parallel SCRs can also be used in place of the triac;
because each SCR in the pair has an entire half-cycle of reverse polarity applied to it, the SCRs,
unlike TRIACs, are sure to turn off. The "price" to be paid for this arrangement, however, is the
added complexity of two separate, but essentially identical gating circuits.