DIAC – WORKING AND CONSTRUCTION

Presented by: Division S Group 2

7 - Dhanashree Tamkane
8 - Tanishka Pimple
9 - Tanmay Walke
10 – Tanmay Yadav
11 – Tanushree Kanade
12 - Tanvi Walthare
 This presentation deals with:
• INTRODUCTION
• SYMBOL
• CONSTRUCTION
• WORKING
• V-I CHARACTERISTICS
• APPLICATIONS
• ADVANTAGES
• DISADVANTAGES
 INTRODUCTION
• DIAC – Diode for Alternating Current
• It is a two-terminal bi-directional switch that
conducts in both directions.
• A DIAC is a diode that conducts electrical
current only after its breakover voltage has been
reached.
• It can be turned on in both forward and reverse
polarities.
SYMBOL
• The symbol of DIAC resembles two diodes in
antiparallel.
• It has two terminals named A1 or MT1 and A2 or
MT2.
• As DIACs are bidirectional devices, their
terminals are not labeled as anode and cathode.
• MT stands for Main Terminal.
 CONSTRUCTION
• DIAC construction has two main terminals
MT1, and MT2.
• Uses two P-type materials and three N-type.
• Three N-type regions - NA, NB, and NC.
• Two P-type regions - PA and PB.
• If MT1 terminal became more positive than
MT2, the current will flow in the direction of
PA -> NB -> PB -> NC.
• If MT2 terminal became more positive than
the MT1, the current will flow in a direction of
PB -> NB -> PA -> NA.
CONSTRUCTION
DIAC construction follows the same rule as a typical
transistor construction. The differentiating points
between transistors and DIAC are-
• There is no base terminal in the DIAC.
• The three regions have almost the same level of
doping.
• It gives symmetrical switching characteristics for
either polarity of voltages.
 WORKING
• The amount of voltage required across the
terminals of the DIAC to switch it ON is called
the Break-Over Voltage (IBO).
• Once the DIAC is made ON, the only way to
switch it off is to reduce the current to zero by
isolating it from the supply.
• When the applied voltage is equal to or greater
than the breakdown voltage, the DIAC starts to
conduct and the voltage drop across it becomes
a few volts.
WORKING
• A small leakage current flows when a small
positive or negative voltage is applied.
• When the voltage increases, the leakage current
continues to flow until the voltage becomes
equal to the Break-Over Voltage.
• At Break-Over Voltage, avalanche breakdown
occurs on the reverse biased junction.
• The current through DIAC increases with the
decreasing value of applied voltage.
• The voltage across the DIAC drops to the Break
– Back Voltage (VW).
V-I CHARACTERISTICS
 V-I CHARACTERISTICS
• The V-I characteristics resemble English letter Z.
• As you can see, the DIAC only operate in 1st and 3rd quadrant.
• In 1st quadrant, the voltage and current are positive. 
• In 3rd quadrant is that the voltage and current are reverse. 
• When the voltage is below the break over voltage VBO, the DIAC blocks the current
except for the leakage current. The device remains in OFF-state.
• Once the voltage increases, the DIAC triggers into ON-state and the current rises. The
voltage across the device starts to reduce to steady ON-state voltage.
 APPLICATIONS
• The DIAC is an electronics component that is widely used to assist triggering of a
TRIACs when used in AC switches and as a result they are often found in light
dimmers such as those used in domestic lighting.
• They are also widely used in starter circuits for fluorescent lamps in Lamp dimmer
circuits.
• Heat control circuits
• Speed control of universal motors
 ADVANTAGES
• The DIAC offer symmetrical switching characteristics.
• Symmetrical switching helps in reducing the harmonics in a system.
• It has low on-state voltage drop.
• The voltage drop increases with the voltage
• It can be easily switches by increasing or decreasing the applied voltage.
• It offers smooth power control when used for triggering other thyristor and TRIAC.
 DISADVANTAGES
• It is a low power device
• It only conducts when voltage increases above 30 volts.
• It cannot block high voltages.
Conclusion:
• Diode that conducts electrical current only after its breakover
voltage.
• three, four, and five layer structures may be used.
• DIAC is a semiconductor device which has three layers and two
junctions.
• Behaviour is similar to the voltage breakdown of a triac without a
gate terminal.
• DIAC is commonly used as a solid-state triggering device for the
other semiconductor switching devices, mainly for TRIACs.
• It can be easily switches by increasing or decreasing the applied
voltage.