DIAC

Diode for alternating current

By
Upama Bose
13MPE0002
INTRODUCTION
•A diac is an important
member of the thyristor family.

•A diac is a two-electrode
bidirectional avalanche diode
which can be switched from
off-state to the on-state for
either polarity of the applied
voltage.
The main characteristics are of the
DIAC are as follows:
(i) Break over voltage
(ii) Voltage symmetry
(iii) Break-back voltage
(iv) Break over current
(v) Lower power dissipation
Although most DIACs have symmetric switching voltages,
asymmetric DIACs are also available. Typical DIACs have a
power dissipations ranging from 1/2 to 1 watt.
Construction of a Diac
A diac is a P-N-P-N
structured four-layer, two-
terminal semiconductor
device.

MT2 and MT1 are the

two main terminals of
the device. There is no
control terminal in this
device.

This is just like a triac

without gate terminal.

The doping level at

the two end P-layers is
the same.
 Operation of a Diac
When T1 is positive,current flow path
is p-n-p-n

For positive polarity of T2,current flow

path is p-n-p-n+

When applied voltage in either

polarity is small (less than breakover
voltage)leakage current, flows through
the device

However, when the magnitude of the

applied voltage exeeds the avalanche
breakdown voltage, breakdown takes
place and the diac current rises
sharply
Characteristics of a Diac
Once the diac goes
into conduction, the
diac maintains an
almost continuous
negative resistance
characteristic.

It remains "in

conduction" until the
current through it
drops below the
holding current, IH.

Most DIACs have

breakover voltage
around 30 V
MATLAB SIMULATION MODEL(1ST QUAD.
CHARACTERISTICS)
MATLAB SIMULATION MODEL(3rd QUAD.
CHARACTERISTICS)
TABLE-VALUES
Vd Id
0.1 0
0.5 0
0.8 0
0.9 0.0095
1 0.01905
1.1 0.02867
1.2 0.0381
1.3 0.04762
1.6 0.0747
1.7 0.8571
0
-0.1 0
-0.5 0
-0.8 0
-0.9 -0.0095
-1 -0.01905
-1.1 -0.02867
-1.2 -0.0381
-1.3 -0.04762
-1.6 -0.0747
-1.7 -0.8571
 PLOT of Vd vs Id
1

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
Series1
-2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2

-0.2

-0.4

-0.6

-0.8

-1
Diac Applications

The diacs are used

as triggering devices
in triac phase control
circuits,employed
for:

 lamp dimmer

 heat control

universal motor
speed control etc.
THANK YOU……