DIAC, SCR, Photo SCR, TRIAC

DIAC
A DIAC is a three-layer, two-junction semiconductor device
that has only two leads.

A DIAC is also referred to as a bidirectional diode thyristor

because it can conduct current in either direction.
 DIAC
Current-Voltage Characteristics of a Diac
• The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of a diac. Notice that the
diac does not conduct for either polarity of voltage until the break
over voltage, V BO , is reached. At this point, the diac conducts and
its voltage drop decreases to a much lower value. The diac continues
to conduct until its current drops below a specified value called the
holding current , usually designated I H ·
 DIAC
The holding current, I H , is defined as the minimum
amount of current required to hold the diac in its
conducting state. Diacs are primarily used in power control
circuits. The diac helps provide a sharp trigger current
pulse that can be used to turn on another thyristor device
known as a triac.
DIAC
 SCRs and Their Characteristics
A silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) is a four-layer pnpn device. the SCR
has three external leads: the anode, cathode, and gate.

An SCR differs from an ordinary rectifier diode in that the SCR will
remain in a non conducting state, although forward-biased, until the
forward break over voltage, V BRF , is reached. Once the break over
voltage is reached, the SCR conducts and its voltage drop decreases
sharply.

Perhaps the most important feature of an SCR is that the forward

break over voltage, V BRF , can be controlled by changing the level of
the gate current, I G
 SCRs and Their Characteristics
SCRs come in many shapes and sizes. Some SCRs can safely
handle anode currents of less than 1 A, and others can handle
anode currents of several hundred amperes.
SCRs and Their Characteristics
Voltage Current Characteristics
 SCRs and Their Characteristics
the current-voltage characteristics of an SCR with the gate

open. Notice that when the anode-cathode circuit is reverse-

biased, only a very small reverse current flows, called the
reverse blocking current.

When the anode-cathode voltage reaches the peak reverse

voltage rating, designated V ROM on the graph, the reverse
current increases sharply.
 Gate Current Controls
Forward Break over Voltage
The maximum forward break over voltage, V BRF , occurs

when the gate current, I G , equals zero. When the gate-cathode

junction is forward biased, the SCR will fi re at a lower anode-
cathode voltage. The gate current, I G , is increased, the value of
V BRF is decreased. As the value of gate current, I G , is
increased, the SCR functions much like an ordinary rectifier
diode.
 SCR Applications
SCRs are frequently used to control the amount of power that is
delivered to a load.
 TRIAC
SCRs have a distinct drawback in that they can conduct current
in only one direction. This is a big disadvantage if it is desired to
control power in ac circuits. A device that can control ac power,
because it can conduct in either direction, is called a triac.
 TRIAC
Voltage Current Characteristics
 TRIAC
The I-V characteristics of a triac are shown that operates
identically to an SCR except that conduction also occurs in the
negative voltage region. the forward break over voltages +V BRF
and -V BRF with the gate open. Lower values of break over
voltage occurs the gate current, I G , is increased.

As with the SCR, the holding current, I H , is the minimum anode

current required to keep the triac operating in the on state.
 Operation Modes of TRIAC
The triac can be triggered in each mode, but some modes require more or less
gate current, I G , than others. Mode 1 is the
most sensitive of all modes; it requires the
least amount of gate current to fire the triac.
Mode 4 is the next most sensitive mode, but
it is not as sensitive as mode 1. The other
modes require higher gate current.
The sensitivity of each mode is affected by
temperature. As the temperature increases,
less gate current is required to fire the triac