Overview
IEC 60747-6:2025 - "Semiconductor devices - Part 6: Discrete devices - Thyristors" is the 2025 edition of the IEC product standard that defines terminology, letter symbols, essential ratings and characteristics, measuring and test methods, and requirements for type, routine and endurance tests and marking for discrete thyristor devices. Covered device types include reverse blocking triode thyristors, reverse conducting (triode) thyristors, bidirectional triode thyristors (triacs) and turn-off thyristors. This edition adds definitions for partial thermal resistance (junction-to-case) and clarifies voltage-related ratings, and updates Clauses 3–7 to remove obsolete information and include necessary additions.
Key Topics
- Scope and terminology: standardized definitions for principal voltages, currents, gate quantities and thermal terms.
- Essential ratings & characteristics: storage/operating temperatures, principal voltages and currents, gate ratings, total power dissipation, frequency and mechanical ratings.
- Electrical characteristics: on‑state/off‑state behavior, latching/holding currents, reverse/repetitive peak currents, recovery and turn‑off parameters.
- Thermal properties: thermal resistance, transient thermal impedance, and measurement of case/junction temperatures (including partial thermal resistance junction-to-case).
- Measuring methods & test circuits: detailed procedures and diagrams for verifying non‑repetitive voltages/currents, surge on‑state currents, di/dt and dv/dt limits, recovered charge and recovery times, on‑state voltage measurement and more.
- Test requirements: requirements for type tests, routine tests, endurance/reliability tests and acceptance criteria.
- Marking & documentation: marking requirements to ensure traceability and correct application.
Applications
IEC 60747-6:2025 is essential for professionals involved with power semiconductor selection, design, testing and compliance:
- Semiconductor manufacturers - to specify product datasheets, define production test plans and ensure consistent device ratings.
- Test laboratories - to implement standardized electrical and thermal test methods and provide certification.
- Power electronics designers - to select appropriate thyristors for converters, motor drives, HV switching, AC controllers and protection circuits using defined ratings (di/dt, dv/dt, recovery).
- Quality & reliability engineers - to run endurance and routine tests consistent with international acceptance criteria.
- Procurement & compliance teams - to verify supplier claims and ensure components meet IEC requirements.
Keywords: IEC 60747-6:2025, thyristors, semiconductor devices, discrete devices, triac, turn-off thyristor, thermal resistance, testing methods, ratings and characteristics.
Related Standards
- Other parts of the IEC 60747 series (semiconductor device standards) and related IEC/ISO standards for electrical testing and product safety. Check the IEC webstore or national committees for the latest cross‑references and corrigenda.
