Thyristor Holding Current

Holding Current:

Holding Current is the minimum current required to maintain the thyristor in the conduction state after it has been triggered. It is also known as the latching current. The holding current is a DC current that flows through the thyristor during the conduction state.

Latching Current:

Latching current is the minimum current required to switch the thyristor from the non-conducting state to the conducting state. It is also known as the trigger current. The latching current is an AC current that flows through the thyristor during the triggering process.

Relationship between IH and IL:

The holding current IH of a thyristor is always less than the latching current IL. This is because the thyristor is designed to turn on quickly and easily when a small trigger current is applied. However, once the thyristor is turned on, it requires a minimum current to keep it in the conduction state. This minimum current is the holding current.

If the current through the thyristor drops below the holding current, then the thyristor will turn off. Therefore, the holding current must be less than the latching current to ensure that the thyristor remains in the conduction state after it has been triggered.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the holding current IH of a thyristor is always less than the latching current IL. This is because the thyristor requires a minimum current to maintain the conduction state, which is less than the current required to trigger the thyristor. Understanding the relationship between IH and IL is important when designing and using thyristors in electronic circuits.