Hello, friends, I hope you all are doing great. In today’s tutorial, we will discuss the Difference Between Diode and Thyristor. The main difference between diode and a thyristor is that a diode has 2 terminals and is used as a rectifier for converting AC to DC and as a switch. While the thyristor has 2 terminals and operates as a switch.
Both diode and thyristor are semiconductor devices and are constructed with the combination of p and n types of materials. In today’s post, we will have a detailed look at both diode and thyristor and find their differences. So let’s get started with the difference between diode and thyristor.
Difference Between Diode and Thyristor
Diode
- It is a semiconductor device that is used for rectification or ac to dc conversion.
- There are different types of diodes like Zener and step recovery.
- there are two types of modes of operation in diode first one is forward biased and the second one is reverse biased
- Its operating voltage value for the case of silicon is 0.7 volts and germanium is 0.3 volts.
- It is used as a rectifier, in clamping circuits, etc
- In reverse biased anode is connected to the negative terminal and the cathode to the positive terminal of the battery.
- The current flow in the diode is due to two types of charge the first one is a hole and the second one is electrons.
- There are two parts of the diode first is positive and the second is negative has electrons as carriers and P has holes
- The material used for the construction of a diode is silicon and germanium.
- Its reverse breakdown voltage value is less large than the LED.
Thyristor
- It is used in circuits for turning on components that need a trigger pulse to work.
- NPNP or PNPN layers combination it has.
- It is like the SCR for some features
- It works as a bistable switch when the gate is connected to the current source and works continuously for voltage.
- It controls the high current where two pints are connected.
- it has two design configurations. Firestone has 2 terminals and the second type of 3 terminals.
- It is commonly used for projects that need high volts and current.
- it controls AC and is part of zero cross-operation.
- It has synchronous functions for in-phase voltage.
- It has 3 working modes reverse, forward, and forward conduction mode
- Its design comes with 3 junctions.
- Its pins are anode-cathode and gate.
- It is used for in-phase fire controllers.
- It handles power in a proper way than a diode.
- It needed a larger voltage than a diode.
- It is a higher cost than a diode. and heavyweight.
Diode vs SCR (Thyristor)
Diode
- It is used for AC to DC conversion.
- It has anode and cathode terminals.
- it comes with 2 semiconductor layers P and N materials
- It has a PN junction.
- It conducts when voltage is higher than 0.4 for germanium and 0.7 v for a silicon diode.
- It needed low working volts.
- It does not control output power and has low ratings.
- It allows current to flow in a forward-biased state.
- Smaller size and lower cost than SCR
Thyristor
- It is also called SCR and is used for ac to dc conversion
- Its pins are anode-cathode and gate.
- It comes with 4 layers with PNPN or NPNP.
- It comes with 3 PN junctions.
- It conducts when get pulse is connected.
- It needed high working volts.
- Output power is regulated by changing the firing angle.
- very high power rating with high losses.
- block current in forward bias and larger size than diode.
- It is costly
What are the advantages of thyristor over diode?
- A thyristor is like a diode but the difference is that can switched on any instant with a proper trigger signal. It can switched any time in half wave when required. It is used for controlling energy for electrical loads.
What is a thyristor used for?
- The main uses of thyristor are for controlling high voltage and current level and used for high voltage, and transmission of DC power. It is also used for industries where heavy machines are operated.
Does thyristor use AC or DC?
- A thyristor is an AC switch and can also used in DC circuits.
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That is all about the difference between diode and thyristor. I tried my level best to make simple this post for you if you have any query ask in comments. Thanks for reading. have a good day.