LAB Handout No.
06 EE-408117
EE–408117 Power Electronics Lab
LAB No: 06
TO INVESTIGATE THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND
CHARACTERISTICS OF TRIAC
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LAB Handout No. 06 EE-408117
Objective:
1. Understanding the construction and characteristics of Triac.
2. Understanding the operation of an Triac.
3. Measure an Triac with ohmmeter.
4. Understanding the triggering modes of Triac.
Apparatus Required:
1. Triac
2. Milliammeter
3. Multimeter
4. Resistor
5. DC power supplly
Introduction
TRIAC Construction Operation and Applications of TRIAC
Triac is a three terminal AC switch which is different from the other silicon controlled
rectifiers in the sense that it can conduct in both the directions that is whether the applied
gate signal is positive or negative, it will conduct. Thus, this device can be used for AC
systems as a switch.This is a three terminal, four layer, bi-directional semiconductor
device that controls AC power. The triac of maximum rating of 16 kw is available in the
market.
Construction of Triac
Two SCRs are connected in inverse parallel with gate terminal as common. Gate
terminals is connected to both the N and P regions due to which gate signal may be
applied which is irrespective of the polarity of the signal. Here, we do not have anode and
cathode since it works for both the polarities which means that device is bilateral. It
consists of three terminals namely, main terminal 1(MT1), main terminal 2(MT2), and
gate terminal G.
Figure shows the construction of a triac. There are two main terminals namely MT1 and
MT2 and the remaining terminal is gate terminal.
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LAB Handout No. 06 EE-408117
Operation of Triac
The triac can be turned on by applying the gate voltage higher than break over voltage.
However, without making the voltage high, it can be turned on by applying the gate pulse
of 35 micro seconds to turn it on. When the voltage applied is less than the break over
voltage, we use gate triggering method to turn it on. There are four different modes of
operations, they are-
1. When MT2 and Gate being Positive with Respect to MT1 When this happens,
current flows through the path P1-N1-P2-N2. Here, P1-N1 and P2-N2 are forward
biased but N1-P2 is reverse biased. The triac is said to be operated in positively
biased region. Positive gate with respect to MT1 forward biases P2-N2 and
breakdown occurs.
2. When MT2 is Positive but Gate is Negative with Respect to MT1 The current
flows through the path P1-N1-P2-N2. But P2-N3 is forward biased and current
carriers injected into P2 on the triac.
3. When MT2 and Gate are Negative with Respect to MT1 Current flows through the
path P2-N1-P1-N4. Two junctions P2-N1 and P1-N4 are forward biased but the
junction N1-P1 is reverse biased. The triac is said to be in the negatively biased
region.
4. When MT2 is Negative but Gate is Positive with Respect to MT1 P2-N2 is forward
biased at that condition. Current carriers are injected so the triac turns on. This
mode of operation has a disadvantage that it should not be used for high (di/dt)
circuits. Sensitivity of triggering in mode 2 and 3 is high and if marginal
triggering capability is required, negative gate pulses should be used. Triggering
in mode 1 is more sensitive than mode 2 and mode 3.
Characteristics of a Triac
The triac characteristics is similar to SCR but it is applicable to both positive and
negative triac voltages. The operation can be summarized as follows-
First Quadrant Operation of Triac
Voltage at terminal MT2 is positive with respect to terminal MT1 and gate voltage is also
positive with respect to first terminal.
Second Quadrant Operation of Triac
Voltage at terminal 2 is positive with respect to terminal 1 and gate voltage is negative
with respect to terminal 1.
Third Quadrant Operation of Triac
Voltage of terminal 1 is positive with respect to terminal 2 and the gate voltage is
negative.
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LAB Handout No. 06 EE-408117
Fourth Quadrant Operation of Triac
Voltage of terminal 2 is negative with respect to terminal 1 and gate voltage is positive.
When the device
gets turned on, a heavy current flows through it which may damage the device, hence in
order to limit the current a current limiting resistor should be connected externally to it.
By applying proper gate signal, firing angle of the device may be controlled. The gate
triggering circuits should be used for proper gate triggering. We can use diac for
triggering the gate pulse. For firing of the device with proper firing angle, a gate pulse
may be applied up to a duration of 35 micro seconds.
Advantages of Triac
1. It can be triggered with positive or negative polarity of gate pulses.
2. It requires only a single heat sink of slightly larger size, whereas for SCR, two
heat sinks should be required of smaller size.
3. It requires single fuse for protection.
4. A safe breakdown in either direction is possible but for SCR protection should be
given with parallel diode.
Disadvantages of Triac
1. They are not much reliable compared to SCR.
2. It has (dv/dt) rating lower than SCR.
3. Lower ratings are available compared to SCR.
4. We need to be careful about the triggering circuit as it can be triggered in either
direction.
Uses of Triac
1. They are used in control circuits.
2. It is used in High power lamp switching.
3. It is used in AC power control.
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LAB Handout No. 06 EE-408117
Procedure: -
I mode
1. Connections are made as shown in the circuit diagram (a)
DC Bias analysis
2. The value of gate current ig is set to convenient value by adjusting vgg as
shown in tables below.
3. By varying the supply voltage V2 gradually in step-by-step, note down the
corresponding values of Vtriac and Itriac. Note down Vtriac and Itriac at the
instant of firing of TRIAC.
4. The point at which TRIAC fires gives the value of break over voltage Vbo1
5. A graph of Vtriac vs Itriac is to be plotted on some software or manually.
Sweep analysis
6. Perform sweep analysis and attach graphs of Vtriac vs Itriac for each value of
Ig.
II mode: -
1. Connections are made as shown in the circuit diagram (b)
2. Repeat the step no.s 2,3, 4, 5, & 6 of I-mode
III mode
1. Connections are mode as shown in the circuit diagram (c).
2. Step no. s 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 are to be repeated as in I-mode.
IV mode
1. Connections are mode as shown in the circuit diagram (d)
2. Repeat the step no. s 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 of I-mode.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM: - USE Triac 2N5444 in Pspice
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LAB Handout No. 06 EE-408117
R1 R1
100 100
R2 X1 R2 X1
2N5444 2N5444
10 V2 10 V2
V1
V1
0 0
I mode (a) II mode (b)
R1 R1
100 100
R2 X1 R2 X1
V2 V2
2N5444 2N5444
10 10
V1
V1
0 0
III mode (c) IV mode (d
Questions: -
1. Explain the different working modes of operations of a TRIAC?
2. What are the applications of TRIAC
3. Compare SCR & TRIAC
4. Why I & II modes are operating in Ist quadrant and III & IV modes are
operating in IIIrd quadrant?
Characteristic curve: -
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LAB Handout No. 06 EE-408117
Mode I+
IG1 = -------- mA IG2 = -------- mA
@ VGG=2.3 V @ VGG=2.5 V
VMT2-MT1 (V) Vtriac (V) Itriac (mA) VMT2-MT1 (V) Vtriac (V) Itriac (mA)
5 2
10 5
20 8
30 12
33 16
40 20
Mode I-
IG1 = -------- mA IG2 = -------- mA
@ VGG= -2.3 V @ VGG= -2.5 V
VMT2-MT1 (V) Vtriac (V) Itriac (mA) VMT2-MT1 (V) Vtriac (V) Itriac (mA)
5 2
10 5
20 8
30 12
33 16
40 20
Mode III+
IG1 = -------- mA IG2 = -------- mA
@ VGG=2.3 V @ VGG=2.5 V
VMT2-MT1 (V) Vtriac (V) Itriac (mA) VMT2-MT1 (V) Vtriac (V) Itriac (mA)
-5 -2
-10 -5
-20 -8
-30 -12
-33 -16
-40 -20
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LAB Handout No. 06 EE-408117
Mode III-
IG1 = -------- mA IG2 = -------- mA
@ VGG= -2.3 V @ VGG= -2.5 V
VMT2-MT1 (V) Vtriac (V) Itriac (mA) VMT2-MT1 (V) Vtriac (V) Itriac (mA)
-5 -2
-10 -5
-20 -8
-30 -12
-33 -16
-40 -20
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