Industrial electronics
Guess first
Latching or holding current: which is bigger?
Most students get this SCR question wrong. Commit before the answer.
Quick check · tap an answer to continue
Lesson notes
Key points
- Latching current is the minimum anode current needed right after triggering, so the SCR stays on once the gate pulse is removed.
- Holding current is lower because a fully conducting SCR already has charge carriers flooding its junctions, so less current keeps regeneration going.
Takeaway: I_L > I_H: latching to turn on, holding to stay on.
Quick check: For a typical SCR, how does latching current I_L compare with holding current I_H?
- I_L is smaller than I_H
- I_L equals I_H
- I_L is larger than I_H
Latching current is larger than holding current: turning on needs more than staying on.
Latching currentHolding current
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