Introduction to TRIAC

The term TRIAC stands for TRIode for Alternating Current. It is a three terminal switching device

similar to SCR (Thyristor) but it can conduct in both the directional since it construct by combining
two SCR in anti-parallel state. The symbol and pin out of TRIAC is shown below.

 
Since the TRIAC is a bi-directional device the current can either flow from MT1 to MT2 or from MT2
to MT1 when the gate terminal is triggered. For a TRIAC this trigger voltage that is to be applied to
the gate terminal can either be positive or negative with respect to terminal MT2. Thus this puts the
TRIAC into four operating modes as listed below
 Positive Voltage at MT2 and positive pulse to gate (Quadrant 1)
 Positive Voltage at MT2 and negative pulse to gate (Quadrant 2)
 Negative Voltage at MT2 and positive pulse to gate (Quadrant 3)
 Negative Voltage at MT2 and negative pulse to gate (Quadrant 4)
 

V-I Characteristics of a TRIAC

The below picture illustrates the status of TRIAC in each quadrant.
 
The turn on and turn off characterises of the TRIAC can be understood by looking at the VI
characterises graph of the TRIAC which is also shown in the above picture. Since the TRIAC is just
a combination of two SCR in anti-parallel direction the V-I characteristics graph looks similar to that
of an SCR. As you can see the TRIAC mostly operates in the 1 st Quadrant and the 3rd Quadrant. 
 
Turn-On Characteristics
To turn on a TRIAC a positive or negative gate voltage/pulse has to be supplied to the gate pin of
the TRIAC. When triggered one of the two SCR inside, the TRIAC begins to conduct based on the
polarity of the MT1 and MT2 terminals. If MT2 is positive and MT1 is negative the first SCR conducts
and if the MT2 terminal is negative and MT1 is positive then second SCR conducts. This way either
one of the SCR always stays on thus making the TRIAC ideal for AC applications.
The minimum voltage that has to be applied to gate pin to turn ON a TRIAC is called as the
threshold gate voltage (VGT) and the resulting current through the gate pin is called as
the threshold gate current (IGT). Once this voltage is applied the gate pin the TRIAC gets forward
biased and starts to conduct, the time taken for the TRIAC to change from off state to on state is
called as turn-on time (ton).
Just like an SCR the TRIAC once turned on will remain turned on unless it is commutated. But for
this  condition the load current through the TRIAC should be greater than or equal to the latching
current (IL) of the TRIAC. So to conclude a TRIAC will remain turned on even after removing the
gate pulse as long as the load current is greater than the value of latching current.
Similar to latching current, there is another important value of current called holding current. The
minimum value of current to keep the TRIAC in forward conduction mode is called as the  holding
current (IH). A TRIAC will enter into continuous conduction mode only after passing though the
holding current and the latching current as shown in the graph above. Also the value of Latching
current of any TRIAC will always be greater than the value of the holding current.
 
Turn-off characteristics
The process of turning off an TRIAC or any other power device is called as commutation, and the
circuit associated with it to perform the task is called as a commutational circuit. The most common
method used to turn off a TRIAC is by reducing the load current though the TRIAC until it reaches
below the value of holding current (I H). This type of commutation is called as forced commutation in
DC circuits. We will learn more about how a TRIAC is turned On and turned Off through it application
circuits.
 

TRIAC Applications
TRIAC is very commonly used in places where AC power has to be controlled for example, it is used
in the speed regulators of ceiling fans, AC bulb dimmer circuits etc. Let us look into a simple TRIAC
switching circuit to understand how it works practically.

 
Here we have used the TRIAC to turn On and off an AC load through a push button. The mains
power source is then wired to a small bulb through the TRIAC as shown above. When the switch is
closed the phase voltage is applied to the gate pin of the TRIAC through the resistor R1. If this gate
voltage is above the gate threshold voltage then a current flows through the gate pin, which will be
greater than the gate threshold current.
At this condition the TRIAC enters forward bias and the load current will flow though the Bulb. If the
loads consumes enough current the TRIAC enter into latching state. But since this is an AC power
source the voltage will reach zero for every half cycle and thus the current will also reach zero
momentarily. Hence latching is not possible in this circuit and the TRIAC will turn off as soon as the
switch is opened and no commutation circuit is required here. This type of commutation of TRIAC is
called as natural commutation. Now let us build this circuit on a breadboard using the BT136
TRIAC and check how it works.
High caution is needed while working with AC power supplies the operating voltage is stepped down
for safety purpose The standard AC power of 230V 50Hz (In India) is stepped down to 12V 50Hz
using a transformer. A small bulb is connected as a load. The experimental set-up looks like this
below when completed.

 
When the button is pressed the gate pin receives the gate voltage and thus the TRIAC is turned ON.
The bulb will glow as long as the button is held pressed. Once the button is released, the TRIAC will
be in latched state, but since the input voltage is AC the current though the TRIAC will go below the
holding current and thus the TRIAC will turn off, the complete working can also be found in the video
given at the end of this tutorial.
 

TRIAC control using Microcontrollers

When TRIACs are used as light dimmers or for Phase control application, the gate pulse that is
supplied to the gate pin has to be controlled using a microcontroller. In that case the gate pin will
also be isolated using an opto-coupler. The circuit diagram for the same is shown below.
 
To control the TRIAC using a 5V/3.3V signal we will use an opto-coupler like the MOC3021 which
has a TRIAC inside it. This TRIAC can be triggered by 5V/3.3V through the Light Emitting Diode.
Normally a PWM signal will be applied to the 1st pin of MOC3021 and the frequency and duty cycle of
the PWM signal will be varied to get the desired output. This type of circuit is normally used for Lamp
brightness control or motor speed control.
 

Rate Effect – Snubber Circuits

All TRIACs suffer from a problem called Rate Effect. That is when the MT1 terminal is subjected to
sharp increase in voltage due to switching noise or transients or surges the TRIAC miss-interrupts it
as a switching signal and turns ON automatically. This is because of the internal capacitance of
present between the terminals MT1 and MT2.
The easiest way to overcome this problem is by using a Snubber circuit. In the above circuit, the
Resistor R2 (50R) and the Capacitor C1 (10nF) together forms an RC network which acts as a
Snubber circuit. Any peak voltages supplied to MT1 will be observed by this RC network.
 

Backlash Effect
Another common problem that will be faced by designers while using TRIAC is the Backlash effect.
This problem occurs when a potentiometer is used for controlling the gate voltage of the TRIAC.
When the POT is turned to minimum value, no voltage will be applied to gate pin and thus the Load
will be turned off. But when the POT is turned to maximum value the TRIAC will not switch on
because of the capacitance effect between the pins MT1 and MT2, this capacitor should find a path
to discharge else it will not allow the TRIAC o turn ON. This effect is called as the Backlash effect.
This problem can be rectified by simply introducing a resistor in series with switching circuit to
provide a path for the capacitor to discharge.
 

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) and TRIACs

TRIAC switching circuits are more prone to Radio Frequency interference (EFI) because when the
load is turned on, the current raises form 0A to maximum value all of a sudden thus creating a burst
of electric pulses which causes Radio Frequency Interface. The larger the load current is the worse
will be the interference. Using Suppressor circuits like an LC suppressor will solve this problem.
 

TRIAC – Limitations
When required to switch AC waveforms in both the directions obviously TRIAC will be the first choice
since it is the only bi-directional power electronic switch. It acts just like two SCRs connected in back
to back fashion and also share the same properties. Although while designing circuits using TRIAC
the following limitations must be considered
 The TRIAC has two SCR structures inside it, one conducts during positive half and the other
during negative half. But, they do not trigger symmetrically causing difference in the positive and
negative half cycle of the output
 Also since the switching is not symmetrical, it leads to high level harmonics which will induce
noise in the circuit.
 This harmonics problem will also lead to Electro Magnetic Interference  (EMI)
 While using inductive loads, there is a huge risk of inrush current flowing towards the source,
hence it should be ensured that TRIAC is turned off completely and the inductive load is
discharged safely through an alternate path
QUADRANT 1 OF TRIAC-In other words, a Triac can be triggered into conduction by both positive
and negative voltages applied to its Anode and with both positive and negative trigger pulses
applied to its Gate terminal making it a two-quadrant switching Gate controlled device.

QUADRANT 2 OF TRIAC- When mains voltage TRIACs are triggered by microcontrollers,

optoisolators are frequently used; for example optotriacs can be used to control the gate
current. ... This ensures that the TRIAC is triggered in quadrants II and III and
avoids quadrant IV whereTRIACs are typically insensitive.

QUADRANT 4 OF TRIAC- Summary: a 3-quadrant triac cannot be turned on in the

fourth quadrant (T2 negative, G positive) which is beneficial when dealing with inductive loads -
ringing caused by sudden turn-off could potentially turn on a 4-quadrant triac, necessitating
snubbers and other protection means to prevent spurious conduction.

Triac Applications. The Triac is most commonly used semiconductor device for switching and
power control of AC systems as the triac can be switched “ON” by either a positive or negative
Gate pulse, regardless of the polarity of the AC supply at that time.
Operation[edit]

Figure 1: Triggering modes. Quadrants, 1 (top right), 2 (top left), 3 (bottom left), 4 (bottom right)
 

Figure 2: TRIAC semiconductor construction

To understand how TRIACs work, consider the triggering in each of the four quadrants. The four
quadrants are illustrated in Figure 1, and depend on the gate and MT2 voltages with respect to MT1.
Main Terminal 1 (MT1) and Main Terminal (MT2) are also referred to as Anode 1 (A1) and Anode 2
(A2) respectively.[1]
The relative sensitivity depends on the physical structure of a particular triac, but as a rule, quadrant
I is the most sensitive (least gate current required), and quadrant 4 is the least sensitive (most gate
current required).[clarification needed  Why is Q-IV the least sensitive? See  discussion]
In quadrants 1 and 2, MT2 is positive, and current flows from MT2 to MT1 through P, N, P and N
layers. The N region attached to MT2 does not participate significantly. In quadrants 3 and 4, MT2 is
negative, and current flows from MT1 to MT2, also through P, N, P and N layers. The N region
attached to MT2 is active, but the N region attached to MT1 only participates in the initial triggering,
not the bulk current flow.
In most applications, the gate current comes from MT2, so quadrants 1 and 3 are the only operating
modes (both gate and MT2 positive or negative against MT1). Other applications with single polarity
triggering from an IC or digital drive circuit operate in quadrants 2 and 3, than MT1 is usually
connected to positive voltage (e.g. +5V) and gate is pulled down to 0V (ground).
Quadrant 1[edit]


Figure 3: Operation in quadrant 1

 

Figure 4: Equivalent electric circuit for a TRIAC operating in quadrant 1

Quadrant 1 operation occurs when the gate and MT2 are positive with respect to MT1. Figure 1
The mechanism is illustrated in Figure 3. The gate current makes an equivalent NPN transistor
switch on, which in turn draws current from the base of an equivalent PNP transistor, turning it on
also. Part of the gate current (dotted line) is lost through the ohmic path across the p-silicon, flowing
directly into MT1 without passing through the NPN transistor base. In this case, the injection of holes
in the p-silicon makes the stacked n, p and n layers beneath MT1 behave like a NPN transistor,
which turns on due to the presence of a current in its base. This, in turn, causes the p, n and p layers
over MT2 to behave like a PNP transistor, which turns on because its n-type base becomes forward-
biased with respect to its emitter (MT2). Thus, the triggering scheme is the same as an SCR. The
equivalent circuit is depicted in Figure 4.
However, the structure is different from SCRs. In particular, TRIAC always has a small current
flowing directly from the gate to MT1 through the p-silicon without passing through the p-n junction
between the base and the emitter of the equivalent NPN transistor. This current is indicated in Figure
3 by a dotted red line and is the reason why a TRIAC needs more gate current to turn on than a
comparably rated SCR.[2]
Generally, this quadrant is the most sensitive of the four. This is because it is the only quadrant
where gate current is injected directly into the base of one of the main device transistors.

Quadrant 2[edit]


Figure 5: Operation in quadrant 2

Quadrant 2 operation occurs when the gate is negative and MT2 is positive with respect to MT1. Figure 1
Figure 5 shows the triggering process. The turn-on of the device is three-fold and starts when the
current from MT1 flows into the gate through the p-n junction under the gate. This switches on a
structure composed by an NPN transistor and a PNP transistor, which has the gate as cathode (the
turn-on of this structure is indicated by "1" in the figure). As current into the gate increases, the
potential of the left side of the p-silicon under the gate rises towards MT1, since the difference in
potential between the gate and MT2 tends to lower: this establishes a current between the left side
and the right side of the p-silicon (indicated by "2" in the figure), which in turn switches on the NPN
transistor under the MT1 terminal and as a consequence also the pnp transistor between MT2 and
the right side of the upper p-silicon. So, in the end, the structure which is crossed by the major
portion of the current is the same as quadrant-I operation ("3" in Figure 5).
Quadrant 3[edit]


Figure 6: Operation in quadrant 3

Quadrant 3 operation occurs when the gate and MT2 are negative with respect to MT1. Figure 1
The whole process is outlined in Figure 6. The process happens in different steps here too. In the
first phase, the pn junction between the MT1 terminal and the gate becomes forward-biased (step 1).
As forward-biasing implies the injection of minority carriers in the two layers joining the junction,
electrons are injected in the p-layer under the gate. Some of these electrons do not recombine and
escape to the underlying n-region (step 2). This in turn lowers the potential of the n-region, acting as
the base of a pnp transistor which switches on (turning the transistor on without directly lowering the
base potential is called remote gate control). The lower p-layer works as the collector of this PNP
transistor and has its voltage heightened: this p-layer also acts as the base of an NPN transistor
made up by the last three layers just over the MT2 terminal, which, in turn, gets activated. Therefore,
the red arrow labeled with a "3" in Figure 6 shows the final conduction path of the current.
Quadrant 4[edit]


Figure 7: Operation in quadrant 4

Quadrant 4 operation occurs when the gate is positive and MT2 is negative with respect to MT1. Figure 1
Triggering in this quadrant is similar to triggering in quadrant III. The process uses a remote gate
control and is illustrated in Figure 7. As current flows from the p-layer under the gate into the n-layer
under MT1, minority carriers in the form of free electrons are injected into the p-region and some of
them are collected by the underlying n-p junction and pass into the adjoining n-region without
recombining. As in the case of a triggering in quadrant III, this lowers the potential of the n-layer and
turns on the PNP transistor formed by the n-layer and the two p-layers next to it. The lower p-layer
works as the collector of this PNP transistor and has its voltage heightened: this p-layer also acts as
the base of an NPN transistor made up by the last three layers just over the MT2 terminal, which, in
turn, gets activated. Therefore, the red arrow labeled with a "3" in Figure 6 shows the final
conduction path of the current.[2]
Generally, this quadrant is the least sensitive of the four [clarification needed  Why is quadrant 4 the least sensitive? See  discussion] In
addition, some models of TRIACs (logic level and snubberless types) cannot be triggered in this
quadrant but only in the other three.
Application[edit]

Typical use as a dimmer

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.
When mains voltage TRIACs are triggered by microcontrollers, optoisolators are frequently used; for
example optotriacs can be used to control the gate current. Alternatively, where safety allows and
electrical isolation of the controller isn't necessary, one of the microcontroller's power rails may be
connected one of the mains supply. In these situations it is normal to connect the neutral terminal to
the positive rail of the microcontroller's power supply, together with A1 of the triac, with A2
connected to the live. The TRIAC's gate can be connected through an opto-isolated transistor, and
sometimes a resistor to the microcontroller, so that bringing the voltage down to the microcontroller's
logic zero pulls enough current through the TRIAC's gate to trigger it. This ensures that the TRIAC is
triggered in quadrants II and III and avoids quadrant IV where TRIACs are typically insensitive.

OFF state forward voltage blocking of triac- When a negative voltage is applied to the anode
and a positive voltage to the cathode, the SCR is in reverse blocking mode, making J1 and J3
reverse biased and J2 forward biased. The device behaves as two reverse-biassed diodes
connected in series. A small leakage current flows. This is the reverse blocking mode.
OFF state reverse voltage blocking of triac- When a negative voltage is applied to the anode
and a positive voltage to the cathode, the SCR is in reverse blocking mode, making J1 and
J3 reverse biased and J2 forward biased. The device behaves as two reverse-biassed diodes
connected in series. A small leakage current flows. This is the reverse blockingmode.
ON state conducting of triac- We now know that a “triac” is a 4-layer, PNPN in the positive
direction and a NPNP in the negative direction, three-terminal bidirectional device that blocks
current in its “OFF” state acting like an open-circuit switch, but unlike a conventional thyristor,
the triac can conduct current in either direction when.
gate triggered ON of triac- In other words, a Triac can be triggered into conduction by both
positive and negative voltages applied to its Anode and with both positive and
negative trigger pulses applied to its Gate terminal making it a two-quadrant
switching Gate controlled device.
reverse voltage of triac- The triac is a bi-directional thyristor, similar in operation to two SCRs
connected in reverse parallel but using a common gate connection. Therefore the triac can
conduct and be controlled during both positive and negative half cycles of the mains waveform.