*imagines trying to build a DC-DC converter using GTO thyristors*
That sounds like an interesting challenge--wait no why am I thinking about this that's a really bad idea
@Felthry bad ideas can be interesting challenges!
*doesn't know enough electrical engineering to comment on this example, tho*
@packbat this particular case is bad for a ton of reasons. GTO thyristors are really difficult to drive properly for one, and you can make a substantially better device using IGBTs or MOSFETs both of which are far easier to work with
thyristors are not, in general, meant to be possible to turn off by an external signal; they can only be turned on. GTO thyristors can be turned off in such a manner, but it requires diverting a very large current through your control electronics
@packbat update: okay yeah thyristors are much cheaper