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lab7

Uploaded by

madnir99
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LAB Handout No.

07 EE-408117

EE–408117 Power Electronics Lab

LAB No: 07
TO INVESTIGATE THE APPLICATION OF DIAC AND
TRIAC IN AC CIRCUITS

Institute of Space Technology 1


LAB Handout No. 07 EE-408117

Objective:
1. Demonstrate bi-directional conduction of a gated TRIAC.
2. Demonstrate bi-directional operation of DIAC.
3. Implement light dimmer/speed controller using thyristor as an AC switch

Apparatus Required:

1. Triac
2. Diac
2. Diode
3. Multimeter
4. Resistor / Capacitor
5. DC power supplly

Introduction

A triac is a solid state AC switch. A small current on the gate terminal can switch very
large AC currents. Think of a triac as two back-to-back SCRs where the cathode of one
SCR is connected to the anode of the other and vise-versa. The gates are connected
together. Because we have the two SCRs type configuration allows the switching of both

half-cycles.
In the above example closing the switch will cut on the triac. The idea is to use a small
low-power switch to control high power devices such as motors or heaters. The danger
here is the high voltage AC is on the switch itself. This can also be a big problem for
solid state controllers unless they use a small relay, which some microwave do just that.

Institute of Space Technology 2


LAB Handout No. 07 EE-408117

Above is a practical TRIAC test circuit. Press either switch and the lamp will come on at
half brightness. Press both together full brightness. This allows testing of both SCR sides
individually. The brightness should be the same for both sides or the TRIAC is defective.
With no switch pressed, lamp should be totally off. R1 and R2 should be in the range of
100 to 470 ohms.

The key to successfully triggering a triac is to make sure the gate receives its triggering
voltage from the main terminal 2 side of the circuit (the main terminal on the opposite
side of the TRIAC symbol from the gate terminal). Identification of the Mt1 and Mt2
terminals must be done via the TRIAC's part number with reference to a data sheet or
book.
The DIAC, or 'diode for alternating current', is a trigger diode that conducts current only
after its breakdown voltage has been exceeded momentarily. When this occurs, the
resistance of the DIAC abruptly decreases, leading to a sharp decrease in the voltage drop
across the DIAC itself thus producing a sharp increase in current flow through the triac
gate.
This assures a fast, clean cut on of the TRIAC. The DIAC remains in its conduction mode
until the voltage drops to a very low value far below the trigger voltage. This is called the
holding current. Below this value, the diac switches back to its high-resistance (off) state.
This behavior is bidirectional, meaning typically the same for both the positive and
negative half cycles.
Most DIACs have a breakdown voltage around 30 V. In this way, their behavior is
somewhat similar to (but much more precisely controlled and taking place at lower
voltages than) a neon lamp.
DIACs have no gate electrode, unlike some other thyristors. Some TRIACs contain a
built-in DIAC in series with the TRIAC's "gate" terminal for this purpose. DIACs are
also called symmetrical trigger diodes due to the symmetry of their characteristic curve.
Because DIACs are bidirectional devices, their terminals are not labeled as anode and
cathode but as A1 and A2 or Mt1 ("Main Terminal") and Mt2. Most specification sheets
don't bother to label A1/A2 or Mt1/Mt2.

Institute of Space Technology 3


LAB Handout No. 07 EE-408117

Commercial lamp dimmer in 220 volt countries.

AC Power Control
A triac control circuit is shown in figure. Here it is controlling ac power to load by
switching on and off during the positive and negative half cycles of the input sinusoidal
signal.
During the positive half cycle of the input voltage, diode D 1 is forward biased, D2 is
reverse-biased, and the gate terminal is positive with respect to A1 During the negative
half cycle, the diode D2 is forward biased and diode D1 is reverse-biased, so that the gate
becomes positive with respect to terminal A2– The point of commencement of conduction
is controlled by adjusting the resistance R2.

PROCEDURE: -

1. Connections are mode as shown in the circuit diagram below


2. By varying the resistance R, in step-by-step note down the corresponding
vales of Vn & Vm from C.R.O. and Va.c from A.C. voltmeter the readings are
tabulated in the tabular column

3. If delay angle ranges from 0 To 900, then firing angle can be calculated

in degrees
If firing angle ranges from 900 To 1800 then can be calculated by using a

formula, in degrees

4. The conduction angle B can be calculated by using a formula,

Institute of Space Technology 4


LAB Handout No. 07 EE-408117

β= 180 - α in degrees
5. The current can be calculated by

6. A graph of Iac v/s α, Vac or load voltage v/s α are to be plotted

7. Compare Vo(meter) with Voth where

Tabular Column: -

Institute of Space Technology 5

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