Making it simple: 4 things to know, when defining Thyristor

by Charles Gonzales Gagui - CleVer Vibration

Photo: SEMIPACK Thyristor/Diode.

For today, I am oftly curious to discuss Thyristor. When you would ask Google, you will come up with a very ghastly description of what a Thyristor is. On it’s complex undertaking, we never bothered to understand it as a consequence.

I for one had the same experience and that is the reason I made this.

1. Thyristor is a switch & the Gate pulls the trigger.

I have siblings and when we were kids, we would usually play called stop dance by switching the lights ‘on’ and ‘off’. Especially, if it is totally dark, giving us a disco ball illusion. Fun will end, when my mom will scold at us to never to do that again as the lights would burn out.

In contrast to popular belief, Thyristors are reasonably easy to understand. It is simple as switching the lights ‘on’ or ‘off’.

To simply put it, a Thyristor is also a switch that you can fully ‘on’ or ‘off’. The difference between a Thyristor and your regular light switch is that it is extremely radical when doing the ‘on’ and ‘off’. How radical you ask, it’s action of ‘on’ and ‘off’ is measured in milliseconds or microsecond that cannot be detected by the naked eye. Take that mom!

Understanding a Thyristor’s action is easy from its symbol. 

Photo: Thyristor Symbol

This device has three terminals: Anode (positive terminal), the Cathode (negative terminal) and the Gate (control terminal).

Using your fingers as trigger, you will just need a little effort to control the lights ‘on’ of ‘off’.

Similarly, Thyristor uses the same principle for control. Main current flows between the anode and cathode and the gate will serve as the fingers and the small amount of current (more like 4 to 20 mA) as the force that you need to apply and enable you to control the device to fully ‘on’ or ‘off’.

Using the gate as a trigger we have three types of operation.

• Forward Blocking
• Reverse Blocking
• Forward Conducting

2. Forward Blocking

Photo: Off-switch

When the lights are ‘off’ and you have never applied any force on the switch, obviously the lights remains ‘off’.

When no current is flowing through the gate, there will be no trigger to act to let the current flow between anode and the cathode. Therefore, Thyristor remains switched ‘off’, we call this as Forward Blocking.

3. Reverse Blocking

Photo: Switch pressing to 'off' position

When the lights are ‘off’ and you applied force on the switch by pressing to ‘off’ position, even pressing it as hard as possible the light will stay ‘off’.

When you trigger the Thyristor by a gate, but the application of flow of current is in reverse direction of the anode and cathode connection, Thyristor will stay ‘off’. Doing this is like asking anode (positive terminal) to be negative, hence blocked and we call this operation as Reverse Blocking.

4. Forward Conducting

Photo: Switch pressing to 'on' position

When we need the lights ‘on’, obviously we just press the switch to ‘on’ position. Even if we take off our fingers, we know it will stay ‘on’.

When you trigger the Thyristor by a gate and the flow of current allows activation of anode to be positive and cathode to be negative, you are allowing the main current to flow as well. As long as the current is provided on this forward flow, it will remain conducting. Therefore, Thyristor remains switched ‘on’ and we call this operation as Forward Conducting.

So that’s it. These are the basics of Thyristor. To know more ask a electrical engineer near you. 

Let me know what you think and please feel free to comment.

7 things you need to know on writing e-mails when you CAN’T give client’s what they want.

by Charles Gonzales Gagui - CleVer Vibration

Photo: henry chilcott

So as the year ends, I am sharing these tips. Please note that I am not telling you to change how you write your e-mails, but rather to get some insights from you and maybe help each other in the process.

So, let me know what you think and please feel free to comment on my mistakes and grammar, because I need it.

1. Smile. 

Photo: nour ammar

When you can't give client’s what they want, it's easy to feel discouraged about writing to them. 

To start with a positive mindset, put a smile in your face. 

This will resonate loudly on your words and into your e-mails.

2. Shift your thinking from Complaint to Concern.

Photo: Linda Silva Palleschi

Think of your client’s e-mail as a genuine concern to your product and services and value them for their time and effort and recognize this intention.

Begin your e-mail with a pleasing note to show that you are a caring and helpful person, like:
“Thank you for your e-mail"
“… for writing to us about your concern”
“… for letting me/us know”
“… for the opportunity to share information about . . ."
“It has been our utmost priority to give integrity to our products and service and we value our clients in these concerns.”

Use words like ‘thank you’, ‘we appreciate’, ‘grateful’, ‘value’ and ‘happy’. 

Even though you cannot change the situation, this will help make your customer feel valued & heard.

Avoid any language that characterizes your reader as a complainer. Even if he or she uses 
the words "complaint" or "complain," do not include those words in your response. 
Instead, use neutral terms such as "letter," "concern," "inquiry," and "situation."

3. Be intimate and personal on your e-mail. 

Photo: stavos

Remember that the one you are sending the e-mail is a person too that has feelings and family. They are just average working people, same as you.

To show respect and approval, greet the reader by name (not Dear Sir/Madame). 

As Dale Carnegie put it, 

"Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language"

To avoid aggravation on unclear gender based on names, you need to distant yourself on using Sir or Madame. Calling a lady client a Sir, or a male client a Ma’am, is very upsetting.

Example of confusing names that I have met:
a. ***-Hyoung Kim (Male)
b. ***kyung Kim (Female)
c. Sae *** Park (Male)
d. Na *** Park (Female)
e. Nguyen *** Toan (Male)
f. Nguyen *** Nhung (Female)

Also, respond specifically on what the client asks.

What I usually do is to copy paste client’s whole sentences on his/her e-mail and respond to every sentences of it. 

You will then re-write and review carefully to make sure that your words engage on your client’s situation.

Also be sensitive on the country they came from. Use Pak for Indonesians or –san for Japan clients. If you can, tell Good Morning in their own language.
“안녕하세요”
“お早うございます”
“早上好”
“Selamat Pagi”
“குட் மார்னிங்”
“Magandang Umaga”

It does not hurt if you ask them about the weather or an occurring holidays, they will applaud you on taking the time.

4. Provide information immediately to alleviate their concern/complaint.

Photo: Jamie Frith

Maybe they are just having a bad day, so do not take it personal.

You should have a maximum delay of response of 1 week. If you cannot give a proper answer within one week, let them know that you are taking action on it and will reply as soon as possible. 

Use sentences like:

If you need more time, “We are taking action on this concern, we will send our review on _____ / as quickly as possible.”

If you need to turn-over this complaint, “We deem to escalate this case and your email to our senior management for review and response, will keep you informed on your escalated case status as soon as I get an update.”

If you need to close this, “This is an isolated case, we cannot conclude that the heater we supplied is the same as _____ even if we have _____. We do not envisage any modification/replacement for _____”
                or “The equipment is no longer under warranty, ______ can give support to the commissioning activities and booked the suitable engineer for your mobilization period.”

Offer yourself or another person on your team as a contact. Even if there is nothing you can do, giving follow-up contact information helps your reader feel connected and not isolated. 

Close your message with a sentence like one of these: 
"If you need further information, please call me at __________ or email __________" 
"Please feel free to call our Sales at _________." 

Yes, certain people may abuse that information, but most will simply be grateful to know you are available.

5. Be valiant on your words of empathy

Photo: Norman Peters

Include statements like:
"We understand and regret," 
"We are sorry about the situation,"  
"I wish I could offer," 
"I understand that this response is not what you had hoped for." 

An apology does not mean that you make the concern your responsibility.

It just means that you are with them and you are extending your apologies that the situation exists and you regret that it has come to this.

6. Do not accuse

Photo: Guy J. Sagi

It is in our nature to always or be in the defense side. There is nothing wrong with that, but it always depends on the use of words.

Criticize the circumstances not the person. When giving your disapprobation, avoid using word ‘you’.

Notice on how I use ‘you’ on this e-mail. Using you will make your reader be engaged and feel what you are personifying. 

This is the same as adding 'you' on a complaint/concern e-mail.  The reader will give him/her distress and confusion by feeling directed on your e-mail. 

Instead of "If you had purchased ___, it should have not come to this”, 
write, "Unfortunately, this requirement was not part of our supply/offer/policy, please let us know if your good office will confirm this item and we will provide an offer"

Instead of "You should have told us earlier that you wanted this, it’s too late now." 
say, "I am regretably sorry, but this request will not be possible at this stage. Equipment has already been fabricated and shipped. Please confirm these changes and we will give an additional offer "

7. Provide information that are ‘double confirmed’

Photo: Vimrod

All information you give must be affirmed and double checked.

Before giving any advice make sure that you, yourself have tried it or it was asserted by the QA or a Senior personnel of the company you are representing.

If in doubt, ask!

Like giving links. You need to try the link and check if this is indeed, going to the IOM document.

If you are offering a contact person, be sure the number connects directly to the right support with correct country & area code.

Remember: Even if you CAN’T give client’s what they want, you CAN still write a message that will help make your customer feel valued & heard.