Industrial electronics
Don't do this
3 mistakes that cost marks on thyristors
3 mistakes that cost marks in power electronics
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Lesson notes
Key points
- Latching = holding current: Latching current is larger than holding current; latching starts conduction, holding keeps it going.
- Triac as one-way device: A triac conducts both directions, acting like two antiparallel SCRs, so use it for AC control.
- Ignoring dv/dt rating: A fast voltage rise can falsely trigger an SCR; fix it with an RC snubber across the device.
Takeaway: Latching > holding; snub dv/dt; triacs are bidirectional.
Quick check: How do latching and holding current compare in an SCR?
- Latching is larger
- Holding is larger
- They are always equal
Latching current, needed to start conduction, exceeds holding current.
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