EXPERIMENT 1

SILICON-CONTROLLED RECTIFIER

I. OBJECTIVE:

After completing and performing the laboratory experiment, you will

able to:

1. Demonstrate a practical go/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
junctions is always reverse biased. The SCR can be tested with 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 or 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.

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II. MATERIALS NEEDED:

1 Fixed + 12-V power supply

1 Standard or digital voltmeter
1 C106Y1 SCR or equivalent
1 100- 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 DPST switches (S1 and S2)
1 Breadboard for constructing circuit

PART I; TESTING AN SCR WITH 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.

Figure 4.1 Testing an SCR with an ohmmeter: (a) without clip lead; (b) with clip lead; (c)
again without clip lead.

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 4.2, 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.

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6. Move S2 to position B and record the values of VG and VA in the fourth
row of the data table.
7. Move S2 to position A and record the values of VG and VA in the fourth
row of the data table.

Figure 4.2 Operation of an SCR.

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 SILICON-CONTROLLED RECTIFIER
Part 2

PART I : TESTING AN SCR WITH AN OHMMETER

Table 4.1: Ohmmeter Reading

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

None Positive Negative
Positive Positive Negative
None Negative Positive

FILL-IN QUESTIONS:

1. An SCR will have resistance before being triggered.

2. An SCR will have resistance before after triggered.

3. The -to- 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
through the device.

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PART II: OPERATION OF AN SCR

Table 4.2
S1 S2 VG VA Condition of SCR
Condition Condition (on or off)
A A
B A
A A
A B
A A

FILL-IN QUESTIONS:

1. Before firing, the voltage from anode to ground of the SCR is equal to
.

2. When the gate is made more the SCR fires and IAK
.

3. Once the SCR fires, the gate control and the current

to flow through the SCR.

4. When the SCR is conducting, the voltage from the anode to ground is
equal to .

5. The SCR can be by reducing the current through it

below its holding current.

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS:

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QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS:

1. The letters SCR stand for silicon-controlled rectifier. Explain the use of
the word rectifier in the name.

2. What two things must happen to cause an SCR to fire?

3. What is the difference between triggering gate current and holding

current?

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 Part III
CURRENT CONTROL OF AN SCR

I. OBJECTIVE:

After completing and performing the laboratory experiment, you will

able to:

1. Demonstrate the effect that gate current has to turn on an SCR, and
to determine the minimum holding current to keep the SCR
conducting.
2. Define parameters associated with SCRs, such as gate trigger
current, holding current, forward ON-state voltage and give the
approximate range of values expected for these parameters.

INTRODUCTION:

The experiment shows that sufficient gate current must flow in order
to turn on the SCR and that the minimum holding current can be found with
the addition of large-value potentiometer in anode circuit.

II. MATERIALS NEEDED:

1 Fixed + 12-V power supply

1 Standard or digital voltmeter
1 Standard or digital ammeter
1 C106Y1 SCR or equivalent
1 100- resistor at 0.05 W (R1)
1 22-k resistor at 0.5W (RB)
1 100-k resistor at 0.5W (RA)
1 50-k potentiometer (RH)
2 DPST switched (S1 and S2)
1 Breadboard for constructing circuit

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III. PROCEDURE:

1. Construct the circuit shown in figure 5.1.

2. Set both switches as indicated and then apply power to the circuit.
3. Calculate the gate current IRA, flowing through RA and record in
table 5.1.
4. Measure VAK and record in the place indicated next to IRA. Is the
SCR on or off?
5. Move S1 to position B.
6. Calculate the gate current IRB flowing through RB and record in the
place indicated.
7. Measure VAK and record in the place indicated next to IRB. Is the
SCR on or off?
8. Remove the power supply voltage from the circuit.
9. Modify the circuit by adding the ammeter and 50-k
potentiometer (RH) in series with load resistor RL.
10.Set the wiper RH so that the resistance is completely “shorted out”.
11.Make sure the S1 and S2 are set as indicated and then apply power
to the circuit.
12.Momentarily move S1 from position A to position B and back
again.
13.Recording the reading of VAK and IA in table 5.2.
14.Slowly adjust RH so that the current IA begins to decrease.
15.Remember the reading of IA when VAK increases to +VAA. Record
this value in table 5.2 indicated for the minimum holding current of
the SCR. (Perform steps 10 through 15 a few for a more accurate
reading).

Figure 5.1 Current control of an SCR.

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 CURRENT CONTROL OF AN SCR

Table 5.1

S1 S2 IRA = VAA/RA IRB = VAA/RB VAK Condition (ON

or OFF)
A A 0A
B A 0A

Table 5.2

Potentiometer setting VAK IA

(%)
0
5
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100

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FILL-IN QUESTIONS:

1. If the gate resistor is too large, not enough gate current will flow to
the SCR.

2. When the gate resistor is the proper value of gate

current will flow to trigger the SCR.

3. Sufficient is required to keep the SCR conducting.

4. If the load resistance in series with the anode is too large, not enough
current flows from cathode to anode and the SCR will turn
.

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS:

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QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS:

1. How much gate current is needed to trigger a medium-power

SCR?

2. After an SCR has fired, what effect does the gate signal have on
the SCR?

3. What effect does an increase in anode current have on anode-

cathode voltage?

4. Explain why an SCR is superior to a series rheostat for controlling

and limiting current through a load.

5. Explain the difference between an SCS and an SCR.

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 AC TRIGERRING OF AN SCR

I. OBJECTIVE:

After completing and performing the laboratory experiment, you will

able to:

1. Show how an ac current to a load can be controlled by an SCR,

depending on what portion of the positive alternation of s sine
wave the SCR turns on.
2. Define firing delay angle and conduction angle.
3. Show how conduction angle affect the average load current.
4. Control average current delivered to a load.

INTRODUCTION:

The first part of this experiment uses only a variable resistance

to vary the trigger time from 0o to 90o. An oscilloscope is used to view the
voltage waveforms across the SCR and RL.

A capacitor and diode are added to the original circuit to

complete the second part of the experiment. The capacitor extends the
trigger time to nearly 180o, and the diode produces a sharpener current pulse
when it conducts, to provide more trigger control.

II. MATERIALS NEEDED:

1 12-Vrms transformer or ac source

1 Oscilloscope (use only one channel)
1 C106Y1 SCR or equivalent
1 1N4001 diode or equivalent
1 100- resistor at 0.5W(R1)
1 1-k resistor at 0.5 W(RA)
1 500- k potentiometer (RG)
1 0.2-F capacitor or 25 25WV dc (CG)
1 Breadboard for constructing circuit

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III. PROCEDURE:

1. Construct the circuit shown in figure 6.1

2. Place the oscilloscope’s channel 1 across the SCR, VAK.
3. Vary RG back and forth and view the voltage waveform across the
SCR.
4. Adjust RG so that the SCR triggers about halfway between 0o and
90o
5. Draw the voltage waveform across the SCR in the space provided,
making sure to align it with the proper degrees for one cycle.
(Indicate peak-to-peak voltage).
6. Place the oscilloscope’s channel 2 across RL.
7. Draw the voltage waveform across RL in the space provided,
making sure it with proper degrees for one cycle. (Indicate peak-
to-peak voltage).
8. Set the firing delay angle and complete table 6.1. Before measuring
the new setting of RG using ohmmeter, turn off the power supply
first.
9. Modify the circuit as shown in Figure 6.1 by adding the capacitor
and diode (Figure 6.2).
10.Place the oscilloscope across the SCR.
11.Vary the RG back and forth and view the voltage waveform across
the SCR.
12.Adjust RG so that the SCR triggers past 90o, but not at 180o point.
13.Draw the voltage waveform across the SCR in the space provided,
making sure to align it with the proper degrees for one cycle.
(Indicate peak-to-peak voltage)
14. Place the oscilloscope’s channel 2 across RL.
15. Draw the voltage waveforms across RL in the space provided,
making sure to align it with the proper degrees for one cycle.
(Indicate peak-to-peak voltage).
16. Set the firing delay angle and complete table 6.2. Before measuring
the new setting of RG using ohmmeter, turn off the power supply
first.

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Figure 6.1: Trigger time ≈ 0° to 90°

Figure 6.2: Trigger time ≈ 0° to 180°

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 AC TRIGGERING OF AN SCR

Table 6.1: Trigger time ≈ 0° to 90°

Firing Delay Angle 0 30 45 60 75 90
RG Setting (kΩ)

GRAPHS:

Voltage waveform across the SCR

Voltage waveform across the load resistor.

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Table 6.2: Trigger time ≈ 0° to 180°

Firing
Delay 10 30 45 60 75 90 100 120 140 150 160 170 180
Angle
RG
setting
(kΩ)
GRAPHS:

Voltage waveform across the SCR

Voltage waveform across the load resistor.

FILL-IN QUESTIONS:

1. Using only a potentiometer, the ac trigger tine of an SCR can be varied

from about to degrees.

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2. Using a potentiometer and capacitor, the ac trigger time of an SCR can be
varied from about to degrees.

3. When the SCR conducts, the voltage across RL is about equal to the

4. When the SCR conducts, the voltage across its A-K terminals is about
V.

5. The voltage across RL when the SCR conducts is the result of

times

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS:

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QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS:

1. Which condition would cause the larger load current, a firirng delay
angle of 35° or a firing delay angle of 60°?

2. If the conduction angle of an SCR is 90° and it is desired to double

the average load current, calculate the new conduction angle for a 60
Hz ac supply.

3. For figure 6.1, assume the supply is 12 Vrms, IGT = 10 mA, and RA =
1 kΩ. The firing angle is desired to be 90°. To what value should R 2
be adjusted?

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4. In figure 6.1, if the resistance of the load is 100Ω and the supply is
12 Vrms, how much power burned in the SCR when the firing delay
angle is 0°? When the SCR is turned ON the voltage across is 1.0 V.

5. In figure 6.1, the supply is 115 Vrms, 60 Hz. The SCR has a
triggering gate current of 35mA; RA = 1 kΩ; what value of RG will
cause a firing delay angle of 90°?

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