What is Thyristors?

A thyristor is a solid-state semiconductor device with four layers of alternating N and P-type material. It acts as an electrical switch, conducting current only when its gate receives a current pulse, and it continues to conduct as long as the voltage across the device is not reversed or the current drops below a certain threshold (holding current). Thyristors are commonly used in high-power applications such as AC power control, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission, motor control, and inrush current limiting.