Operation of TRIAC

Cross-sectional view of a TRIAC

Quadrant 1 Operation of TRIAC

Polarity MT 2 Positive
with respect to
MT 1 Gate current Positive

Operation

• Junction P1 N1 and P2 N2 are forward biased, but junction N1 P2 is

reversed biased.
• The gate current flows from the P2 N2 junction.
•When gate current injects sufficient charge into P2 layer, reverse
biased junction N1 P2 breaks down and TRIAC starts conducting
through P1 N1 P2 N2 layers.
Quadrant 2 Operation of TRIAC

Polarity MT 2 Positive

Gate current Negative

Operation

• The gate current flows through P2 N3

junction and the reverse biased junction N1 P2
is forward biased.
•The TRIAC starts conduction through P1 N1
P2 N3 layers initially. With this, the potential
of layer between rises towards anode potential
of MT2.
•The portion of P2 layer under N2 will have
negative potential as it is clamped to cathode
potential of MT1. As a consequence, a
potential gradient exists across P2 layer and
current starts flowing in P2 layer from left to
right.
•Finally right portion of TRIAC consisting of
P1 N1 P2 N2 layers will starts conducting.
Quadrant 3 Operation of TRIAC

Polarity MT 2 Negative
Gate current Negative
Operation
• The gate current flows from P2 to N3 layers.
• The reversed biased junction N1 P1 breaks
down and finally, TRIAC starts conducting
through P2 N1 P1 N4 layers.
Quadrant 4 Operation of TRIAC

Polarity MT 2 Negative

Gate current Positive

Operation

• The gate current forward biases P2 N2

junction and layer N2 injects electrons into
layer P2.
•As a result, reversed biased junction N1 P1
breaks down and the TRIAC starts conducting
through P2 N1 P1 N4 layers.
Sr. Quadrant Polarity
No. Operation
MT 2 Gate
Current

1 Quadrant 1 Positive Positive • Junction P1 N1 and P2 N2 are forward biased, but junction N1 P2 is reversed biased.
• The gate current flows from the P2 N2 junction.
•When gate current injects sufficient charge into P2 layer, reverse biased junction N1 P2
breaks down and TRIAC starts conducting through P1 N1 P2 N2 layers.

2 Quadrant 2 Positive Negative •The gate current flows through P2 N3 junction and the reverse biased junction N1 P2 is
forward biased.
•The TRIAC starts conduction through P1 N1 P2 N3 layers initially. With this, the
potential of layer between rises towards anode potential of MT2.
•The portion of P2 layer under N2 will have negative potential as it is clamped to
cathode potential of MT1. As a consequence, a potential gradient exists across P2 layer
and current starts flowing in P2 layer from left to right.
•Finally right portion of TRIAC consisting of P1 N1 P2 N2 layers will starts conducting.

3 Quadrant 3 Negative Negative • The gate current flows from P2 to N3 layers.

• The reversed biased junction N1 P1 breaks down and finally, TRIAC starts conducting
through P2 N1 P1 N4 layers.

4 Quadrant 4 Negative Positive • The gate current forward biases P2 N2 junction and layer N2 injects electrons into
layer P2.
•As a result, reversed biased junction N1 P1 breaks down and the TRIAC starts
conducting through P2 N1 P1 N4 layers.