What is a Thyristor?
A thyristor is a solid-state semiconductor device with four layers of alternating P- and N-type materials used for high-power applications. It acts as a bistable switch. There are two designs, differing in what triggers the conducting state.
Thyristor Suppliers In South Africa
Thyristors are available at Mouser Electronics from industry-leading manufacturers.
Mouser is an authorized distributor for many thyristor manufacturers including Bourns, Littelfuse, ON Semiconductor, STMicroelectronics, Vishay, WeEn Semiconductors & more.
What is thyristor used for?
Thyristors are mainly used where high currents and voltages are involved, and are often used to control alternating currents, where the change of polarity of the current causes the device to switch off automatically, referred to as “zero cross” operation.
What causes thyristor failure?
It may be caused by thyristor deterioration, the application of excessive voltage or rate of change of voltage (dv/dt), over-temperature, or it can result from misfiring. Any of these faults will produce the same result as above.
Which thyristor is the most widely used?
SCRs
SCRs are the most widely known thyristor. As explained in the general thyristor description above, an SCR remains latched on even when the gate current is removed.
Why we use thyristor instead of diode?
When used in rectifier circuits, thyristors allow current to be controlled more accurately than diodes, which can only be ON or OFF.
A thyristor can be triggered to allow current to pass in a graduated manner, by firing (switching on the thyristor) at a precise time, therefore controlling the conduction angle.