COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

LABORATORY 1: SCR Parameters

MEMBERS: (L)_________________________________ GROUP: ____________

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OBJECTIVE

 Determine the breakover voltage, VBR, switching current, ISW and holding current, IH, of an SCR.

COMPONENT

 NI MULTISIM

THEORY

The silicon-controlled rectifier is a four-layer diode with a gate connection as in Figure (a). When turned on, it
conducts like a diode, for one polarity of current. If not triggered on, it is nonconducting. Operation is explained in
terms of the compound connected transistor equivalent in Figure (b). A positive trigger signal is applied between the
gate and cathode terminals. This causes the NPN equivalent transistor to conduct. The collector of the conducting
NPN transistor pulls low, moving the PNP base towards its collector voltage, which causes the PNP to conduct. The
collector of the conducting PNP pulls high, moving the NPN base in the direction of its collector. This positive
feedback (regeneration) reinforces the NPN’s already conducting state. Moreover, the NPN will now conduct even
in the absence of a gate signal. Once an SCR conducts, it continues for as long as a positive anode voltage is present.
PROCEDURE:

Given the circuit below, measure the breakover voltage, switching current and holding current of the SCR.

Switching Current and Breakover Voltage Measurement

1) Set IG and VAA to its minimum value (0A, 0V).

2) Close the SW, then slowly increase VAA with a 1% increment. Observe the voltage VAK and the anode
current, IA, every time the VAA raises. Take note of the voltage VAK and current IA before VAK suddenly
drops to a low level.

(If you missed the value of VAK and IA when the VAK drops, turn off the SCR by opening the SW (anode
interruption), then reduce the voltage VAA or turn off the simulation by pressing the stop button, lower the
VAA, and then turn-on the simulation.)

QUESTION:
a. What is the percentage sweep of VAA when VAK drops?
35 V
- ( 200 V)
× 100=17.5 %
b. What are the values of VAK and IA before VAK drops?
- V AK 34 V
- I A 13.6uA
c. What is VAK called at this point?
- Forward-Breakover Voltage
d. What is IA called at this point?
- Holding Current
e. At this point, what is the condition of the SCR?
- Forward Biased

3) Further increasing VAA to 100%, observe the IA, and VAK.

QUESTION:
f. What can you say about the current IA and voltage VAK when VAA is increased?
- Both current IA and voltage V are increased.

4) Now, reduce the percentage of VAA lower than the answer from question a.
 QUESTION:
g. Is the voltage VAK has returned to a high voltage? Explain.
- Yes. Because when we reduced the percentage of the voltage VAA with 34 V the voltage
VAK was remained has a high voltage with 692 mV.
h. At this level of VAA, what is the condition of the SCR?
-
i. How to turn-off the SCR in the circuit when it is being latch on?
- To switch off a conducting SCR, the anode or forward current must be lowered to zero
or below the holding current, and then a sufficient reverse voltage must be provided
across the SCR to return it to its forward blocking condition.

5) Open the switch, SW, then change VAA to 5% lower or to 5% higher than the answer from question a. After
changing the VAA, close the switch, SW, and observe the condition of the SCR.

QUESTION:
j. What is your observation about the condition of the SCR when VAA is set to 5% lower than the
answer from question a?
-
k. What is your observation about the condition of the SCR when VAA is set to 5% higher than the
answer from question a?
-

6) Open the switch, SW, and change VAA to 5% lower than the answer from question a. At this point, the SCR
should be in the forward blocking region when the switch is closed. Now, increase IG from 0A to 50mA
with 1% increment. While increasing IG, observe the voltage of VAK when it drops to a low voltage.

QUESTION:
l. What is the current IG, when VAK drops to a low voltage?
- I G=34 mA
m. What do you call to the current IG when VAK drops?
-

Holding Current Measurement

1) Change the VAA maximum voltage to 5V and set the percent increment to 1%.
2) Close the SW.
3) Turn the SCR into forward conduction region by triggering the gate (IG > IGT or set IG to 100%) and setting
VAA to 100% (VAA = 5V).
4) Next, remove the gate current by setting IG = 0A. At this point the SCR is still in the forward conduction
even without the gate current.
5) Now, reduce VAA by 1% and monitor VAK. If VAK equal to VAA the IA suddenly drops to a very low value.

QUESTION:
n. What is the value of the current IA before VAK = VAA?
- I A=10 mA
o. What do you call to this current IA?
- Holding Current

Individual Conclusion:

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