Top 10 Costliest Mistakes In SCR Power Controller Design: Part 2
Published by ccipower on Thu, 2012-10-25 13:44Our engineers have compiled a list of the "Top 10 Costliest Mistakes In SCR Power Controller Design." Check back each week for two more entries in the series, and contact us for more information.
#7. FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A MINIMUM LOAD
An open load condition or too small of load can prevent the SCR from commutating properly, which could eventually lead to saturation of the transformer and blown fuses. Be sure to maintain the minimum current on the primary.
#8. OPERATING AN SCR ABOVE OR BELOW ITS RATED ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Many people believe running an SCR power controller in a colder environment is advantageous to the device. For SCRs, however, the required SCR drive current increases as the temperature decreases and can over tax the system, leading to misfires and potential saturation of downstream transformers. A small box heater is recommended for designs operating less than 32˚F / 0˚C.
Operating the SCR controller above 50C also shortens the life of the SCR and the associated electronic components.