TRIAC

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TRIAC schematic symbol

Some examples of TRIACs

TRIAC semiconductor
construction

TRIAC, from Triode for Alternating Current, is a genericized tradename for an electronic
component which can conductcurrent in either direction when it is triggered (turned on), and is
formally called a bidirectional triode thyristor or bilateral triode thyristor.

A TRIAC is approximately equivalent to two complementary unilateral thyristors (one is anode

triggered and another is cathode triggered SCR) joined in inverse parallel (paralleled but with
the polarity reversed) and with their gates connected together. It can be triggered by either a
positive or a negative voltage being applied to its gate electrode (with respect to A1, otherwise
known as MT1). Once triggered, the device continues to conduct until the current through it
drops below a certain threshold value, the holding current, such as at the end of a half-cycle
of alternating current (AC) mains power. This makes the TRIAC a very convenient switch for AC
circuits, allowing the control of very large power flows with milliampere-scale control currents. In
addition, applying a trigger pulse at a controllable point in an AC cycle allows one to control the
percentage of current that flows through the TRIAC to the load (phase control).

Contents
[hide]

• 1 Applica
 tion

• 2 Exampl
e data

• 3 Alternis
tor

• 4 See
also

• 5 Referen
ces

• 6 Externa
l links

[edit]Application

Low power TRIACs are used in many applications such as light dimmers, speed controls
for electric fans and other electric motors, and in the modern computerized control circuits of
many household small and major appliances.

However, when used with inductive loads such as electric fans, care must be taken to assure
that the TRIAC will turn off correctly at the end of each half-cycle of the AC power. Indeed,
TRIACs can be very sensitive to high values of dv/dt between A1 and A2, so a phase shift
between current and voltage (as in the case of an inductive load) leads to sudden voltage step
which can make the device turn on in an unwanted manner.[1]

Unwanted turn-ons can be avoided by using a snubber circuit (usually of the RC or RCL type)
between A1 and A2. Snubber circuits are also used to prevent premature triggering, caused for
example by voltage spikes in the mains supply.

Because turn-ons are caused by internal capacitive currents flowing into the gate as a
consequence of a high voltage dv/dt, a gate resistor or capacitor (or both in parallel) may be
connected between gate and A1 to provide a low-impedance path to A1 and further prevent
false triggering. This, however, increases the required trigger current or adds latency due to
capacitor charging. On the other hand, a resistor between the gate and A1 helps dragging
leakage currents out of the device, thus improving the performance of the TRIAC at high
temperature, where the maximum allowed dv/dt is lower. Values of resistors less than 1kΩ and
capacitors of 100nF are generally suitable for this purpose, although the fine-tuning should be
done on the particular device model.[2]
For higher-powered, more-demanding loads, two SCRs in inverse parallel may be used instead
of one TRIAC. Because each SCR will have an entire half-cycle of reverse polarity voltage
applied to it, turn-off of the SCRs is assured, no matter what the character of the load. However,
due to the separate gates, proper triggering of the SCRs is more complex than triggering a
TRIAC.

In addition to commutation, a TRIAC may also not turn on reliably with non-resistive loads if
the phase shift of the current prevents achieving holding current at trigger time. To overcome
that, pulse trains may be used to repeatedly try to trigger the TRIAC until it finally turns on. The
advantage is that the gate current does not need to be maintained throughout the
entireconduction angle, which can be beneficial when there is only limited drive capability
available.

[edit]Example data

Variable Typical Un
Parameter
name value it

Vgt Gate threshold Voltage 1.5 [3][4]

V

Igt Gate threshold Current 10 - 50 [4]

mA

600 -
Vdrm Repetitive peak off-state Voltages V
800 [3]

RMS on-state current Non-

It 4 - 40 [4]
A
repetitive peak

Vt on-state forward voltage 1.5 [4]

V

[edit]Alternistor

Alternistor is a trade name for a proprietary class of TRIAC with an improved turn-off
(commutation) characteristic. The term "Alternistor" has been used for the first time by Thomson
Semiconductors (now named ST Microelectronics).
These devices are made specifically for improved commutation when controlling a highly-
inductive load, such as a motor, an application which causes problems for "normal" Triacs due
to high voltage/current angles. Most Triacs' commutation with inductive loads can be improved
by use of a "snubber network", but Alternistors are made specifically for this purpose and they
dispose of the snubber requirement altogether. This improvement is achieved at the expense of
the ability to trigger the device in the 4th quadrant (negative voltage and positive gate current).
However, this is usually no problem, because this trigger mode is seldom used since even
normal TRIACs are least sensitive there. ST Microelectronics has another version of improved
commutation Triac, but they are not marketing them under the proprietary "Alternistor" moniker,
but uses the trademark "SNUBBERLESS".

[edit]See also
 Diode for alternating current (DIAC)

 Quadrac

 Silicon-controlled rectifier

 List of chip carriers

 List of electronics package dimensions

[edit]References

1. ^ M.D. Singh, K.B. Khanchandani, Power Electronics, Second Edition, Tata McGraw-Hill, New
Delhi, 2007, pages 151-152

2. ^ Application Note AN-3008, RC Snubber Networks for Thyristor Power Control and Transient
Suppression, Fairchild Semiconductor, available athttp://www.fairchildsemi.com/an/AN/AN-
3008.pdf, pages 1-5

3. ^ a b "Philips Semiconductors Product specification Triacs BT138 series". 090119 nxp.com

4. ^ a b c d "STMicroelectronics T3035H, T3050H Snubberless™ high temperature 30 A

Triacs". st.com 100922
[edit]External links
Wikimedia Commons
has media related
to: Triacs

 ST Triacs

 ST application note
  The TRIAC, basic functionality

 A site about thyristors

[hide]v · d · eElectronic components

Avalanche diode • Barretter • Capacitor • Ceramic resonator • Compactron • Connector • Crystal oscillator
Pair • Diac • Diode • Ferrite • FET • Hexode • IGBT •Inductor • JFET • Klystron • LED • Memristor • MOSFET
Photo diode • PIN
diode • Potentiometer • Resistor • SCR • Thermistor •Tetrode • Thermostat • Thyristor • Transformer • Tra
capacitor • Varicap • Varistor • Zener diode

Categories: Solid state switches | Power electronics

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