Activity 5

1. Describe the characteristics and mode of operations of DIAC and TRIAC.

The DIAC is basically a diode that conducts after a 'break-over' voltage, selected VBO, and is
exceeded. When the diode surpasses the break-over voltage, then it goes into the negative
dynamic resistance of region. This causes in a reduce in the voltage drop across the diode with
rising voltage. A TRIAC is a high-speed solid-state device that can switch and control AC power
in both directions of a sinusoidal waveform. A TRIAC behaves just like two conventional
thyristors connected together in inverse parallel (back-to-back) with respect to each other and
because of this arrangement the two thyristors share a common Gate terminal all within a single
three-terminal package.

2. Compare DIAC and TRIAC with SCR.

The SCR is a high power device four layers PNPN device with three terminals namely anode,
cathode and gate. The DIAC basically a low power two terminal device. It is a parallel inverse
combination of semiconductor layers that permits triggering in either direction. SCR can only
conduct current in one direction; it can thus be described as a unidirectional device. TRIAC can
conduct in both directions; it can thus be described as a bidirectional device.