VS-VSKT162/08PBF Discrete Semiconductor Products

Thyristors are semi-conductor devices with three or more junction junctions (usually three or four) known as PNPN or the more commonly used PNPM.

Thyristor, SCR, and Module technologies all share the same principle of operation. The basic concept is that they are used to control current flow in a circuit by switching it on or off. All SCRs, thyristors, and modules contain a gate terminal to control the switching.

The VS-VSKT162/08PBF (VS-VSKT hereafter) is a thyristor module produced by Vishay Siliconix. It is a 650V, 4A module with gate driven SCR. It is made with four layers of silicon with a thermal protection layer on top and bottom for additional protection.

The primary purpose of the VS-VSKT is to serve as a low voltage static switch. It switches when the voltage between its anode and gate terminal is greater than the breakover voltage of the VS-VSKT. When it has switched on, the device will remain in the on state until the current is reduced enough for the device to recover its blocked off state.

The VS-VSKT has three primary inputs: anode, gate, and cathode. The anode is the positive input terminal, the gate is the input signal applied to control the on/off switching, and the cathode is normally connected to the negative circuit terminal of the device. The VS-VSKT can be used in either a normally open (NO) or normally closed (NC) configuration depending on which end of the module is connected to the positive or negative circuit.

The VS-VSKT is commonly used in motor control, lighting, and other applications which require static switching. In motor control, the VS-VSKT is often used to control the speed of a motor by varying the voltage between the anode and gate terminals. In lighting applications the VS-VSKT is used to switch on/off fluorescent lamps, incandescent bulbs, or halogen lamps. The device can be connected to a timer to automatically turn the lights on/off at a certain time or used to switch on/off an emergency lighting.

The VS-VSKT also finds use in DC to DC converters, uninterruptable power supplies (UPS), surge protection devices, and photovoltaic (PV) electric systems. In DC to DC converters the VS-VSKT is used to switch the output voltage depending on the input voltage. In UPS systems the VS-VSKT is used to switch from battery power to AC mains in case of a power failure. In surge protection devices the VS-VSKT is used to provide additional protection for sensitive equipment. And in PV electric systems the VS-VSKT is often used to control the output power from the solar array in order to provide maximum efficiency.

In addition to the abovementioned applications, the VS-VSKT finds also use for motor control, switching of motors and lamps, DC-to-AC inverters and general purpose switching.

Overall, the VS-VSKT is a versatile, low voltage static switch that find use in a wide variety of applications. It is a reliable, cost effective device that can provide efficient on/off control of current flow in a circuit.