BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND FINE ARTS

ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Experiment 3

Current Control of an SCR

Submitted by:

Briones, Anne Margaret R.

Catilo, John Carlo

Magundayao, Ian Devin S.

ECE 4102

Submitted to:

Dr. Gil B. Barte

Instructor

September 1, 2015
I. OBJECTIVE:
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. 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 :

1 Fixed + 12-V power supply 1 22-kQ resistor at 0.05W (RB)

1 Standard or digital voltmeter 1 100-k resistor at 0.5W (RA)
1 Standard or digital ammeter 1 50 k potentiometer (RH)
1 C 106Yl SCR or equivalent 2 SPDT switched (S1 and S2)
1 100 resistor at 0.05 W (R1) 1 Breadboard for Constructing circuit
III. PROCEDURE:

1. Construct the circuit shown in figure 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 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 50k 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.
l3.Recording the reading of VAK and IA in table 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 2 indicated for the minimum holding current of the SCR.
(Perform steps 10 through 15 a few for a more accurate reading).
IV. RESULTS
Simulation using multisim

Figure 1. Without Potentiometer

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

(ON or OFF)
A A 119.975 nA 0A 11.996 V ON
B A 0A 545. 455 uA 11.996 ON
V
Table 2
Figure 1: With potentiometer
Potentiometer VAK IA
setting
(%)
0 8.824 V 0.176 mA
5 8.814 V 0.186 mA
10 8.804 V 0.196 mA
20 8.78 V 0.220 mA
30 8.75 V 0.250 mA
40 8.71 V 0.290 mA
50 8.654 V 0.346 mA
60 8.571 V 0.429 mA
 70 8.437 V 0.562 mA
80 8.182 V 0.818 mA
90 7.5 V 1.500 mA
100 7.499 V 9.000 mA

In the table above we can observe that as the potentiometer setting

goes high, the Voltage from anode to cathode decreases gradually because
that is the function of a potentiometer. As as that happens, the anode
current increases slightly because the resistance block some current that will
be seen in the anode.

FILL-IN QUESTIONS
1. If the gate resistor is too large, not enough gate current will flow to
turn on the SCR.
2. When the gate resistor is large enough, the proper value of gate
current will flow to trigger the SCR.
3. Sufficient gate current 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 off.
V. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

Fig. 2.1: Switch Condition (S1: A, S2: A)

 Fig. 2.2: Switch Condition (S 1: B, S2:
A)

VI. QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS

1. How much gate current is needed to trigger a medium power SCR?
To trigger a medium power SCR, the necessary gate current must be
much lower than the current through the SCR from cathode to anode.
2. After an SCR has fired, what effect does the gate signal have on the
SCR?
The gate signal is used to trigger the device into conduction by just the
application of a small voltage.
3. What effect does an increase in anode current have on anode-cathode
voltage?
The increase in anode current have no effect on the anode-cathode
voltage. The scr will remain on unless the anode current drops below
the holding current.
4. Explain why an SCR is superior to a series rheostat for controlling and
limiting current through a load?
An SCR is superior to a series of rheostats because mechanical parts of
rheostats corrode and break after some time which can cause them to
malfunction. Rheostats are now being replaced by SCRs due to the
aforementioned cause.
5. Explain the difference between an SCS and SCR.
A Silicon-Controlled Rectifier, or SCR, is essentially a Shockley diode
with an extra terminal added. This extra terminal is called the gate,
and it is used to trigger the device into conduction (latch it) by the
application of a small voltage. The Silicon controlled switch, or SCS, us
the next step beyond the SCR. It is still a four-layer diode, but now with
all four regions are accessible. The SCS has an addition gate lead( 2
gate leads in total).