What is the difference between a Thyristor and a Transistor?
Thyristors and transistors are both electrical components that are utilised in a variety of applications, but they vary significantly in terms of functioning and features.
The following are the main differences between thyristors & transistors:
| Functioning and Features | Thyristor | Transistor |
|---|---|---|
| Control and Operation | A thyristor is a device made up of four layers of semiconductor material that, once activated, only allows current to flow in one direction. It will continue to conduct electricity until the current flowing through it drops below a certain limit. The conventional method for controlling thyristors involves providing a brief pulse to the gate terminal, which causes the device to begin conducting current. | A transistor is a three-layered semiconductor device that has the ability to regulate the flow of current, amplify electronic signals, and switch between different signal states. Emitter, collector, and base are the three terminals that are found on transistors. The current that is passing between the emitter & the collector may be controlled by the base current. |
| Current & Voltage Handling | Thyristors are able to withstand large amounts of current as well as voltage because of their design. In applications that need high-power control, such as power supplies, motor drives, & voltage regulators, they are often used as a control component. | Transistor: A transistor is a kind of electronic component that is often used for applications requiring low to medium power. In comparison to thyristors, these components have lower current & voltage ratings. Transistors are widely used in amplification, switching, and digital logic circuits. |
| Conductive State | The ON-state and the OFF-state are the two conducting states that may be found in a thyristor. Once it has been activated, it will stay in the ON state until either the amount of current flowing through it drops under a certain threshold (or) a signal instructing it to switch off is sent. | The active, saturation, & cutoff operating stages make up the transistor’s three distinct states of operation. When it is in the active condition, it does not prevent the flow of current between the collector & the emitter. The transistor is completely conducting while it is in the saturation state, but it is blocking the flow of current when it is in the cutoff state. |
| Speed of switching | Thyristors possess slow switching rates than other types of semiconductors. They are unable to switch on and off very rapidly since they rely on external circuitry for the procedures of turning on and turning off. | Transistors are characterised by their ability to quickly switch on and off, which enables them to function at higher frequencies. They are often implemented in higher frequency applications such as digital circuits and radio communications, where they find widespread usage. |
| Application | Thyristors are a kind of component that is often used in high-power applications that need AC to DC conversion. Some examples of these applications include power regulation, motor control, & voltage management in power systems. | Amplification, logic circuits, signal processing, digital systems, & low-power electronics are just a few of the numerous applications that make considerable use of transistors. Transistors are also used in large amounts in many other applications. |