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Thyristors, triacs, diacs

There are several thyristors displayed on 6.1. Triacs look the same as them, while diacs look like small power rectifying diodes. Their symbols, used to represent these components on schematics, and pin positions for some of them, could be found on 6.2.


Fig. 6.1: Several thyristors and triacs

It should be said that thyristor is actually an improved strong diode. Besides anode (A) and cathode (K) it has another lead which is commonly described as a gate (G), as found on picture 6.2a. The same way a diode does, a thyristor conducts current when the anode is positive compared to the cathode, but only if the voltage on the gate is positive and high enough as well. When thyristor starts conducting (from anode to cathode) voltage on the gate is of no importance to us any longer, and thyristor can be switched off only by breaking the circuit on the anode side. For example, look at the picture 6.3. If the circuit was closed using switch S1, thyristor would not conduct electricity, and so bulb won't light. If, even for a very short time, switch S2 was closed, bulb would light. Only by opening S1 will shut the bulb again. thyristors are marked in some schematics as SCR, which is an acronym for Silicon Controlled Rectifier.
Triac is very similar component to thyristor, with the difference that it can conduct electricity in both directions. It has three electrodes as well, called anode 1 (A1), anode 2 (A2), and gate (G). It is used for regulation of alternating current circuits. Devices such as hand drill speed controller or bulb light controller could be realized using a triac, which we will discuss at a later point.
thyristors and triacs are marked alphanumerically, KT430, for example. In schematics it is common to find only their properties, like expected voltage and current, and not exact product mark. In those cases any thyristor or triac, satisfying given values, could be used.
Low power thyristors and triacs are packed in same housings as transistors, but high power ones have completely different shell. These are shown on the upper side, and on the right of the picture 6.1. Pin placement of some more common thyristors and triacs is shown on picture 6.2 a and b.
Diacs (6.2c), or two-way diodes as often referred to, are used together with thyristors and triacs. Their main property is that their resistance is very large until voltage on their ends exceeds some predefined value. That pass-through voltage is commonly 30V. So, while voltage is under 30V diac responds as any common large resistance resistor, and when voltage rises over 30V it acts as a low resistance resistor. Housing of a diac isn't different than packing of the common low power rectifying diode.


Fig. 6.2: Symbols and pin placements for: a - thyristor, b - triac, c - diac


Fig. 6.3: Thyristor principle of work

1. Practical examples

Picture 6.4 displays a schematic of a simple household alarm device using thyristor. Main switch, S1 enables and disables the device. Switch S2 is supposed to open when alarming event occurs (break-in or fire or something else, depending on the sensor used as S2). While this switch is closed, base and emitter are short-circuited (and therefore UBE = 0) and transistor is stopped from conducting electricity. Therefore there is no current on the gate of the thyristor. When S2 opens, even for a very short amount of time transistor starts conducting electricity and over it the thyristor's gate receives positive voltage, which makes thyristor conductive. This conducted current flows through a lightbulb, which turns on. Closing S2 again will not stop thyristor, which means that fast closing the opened door is not of much use to the burglar. Only switch that could shut down the alarm is the S1. Instead of S2, any kind of transformer which has low resistance in normal conditions so thyristor would remain closed. When alerting state occurs it's resistance should rise, which will end up in a lit bulb.


Fig. 6.4: Alarm device using a thyristor and a transistor

Picture 6.5 signals that light is lit in the room which shouldn't have this occurring. While the light is out photo-transistor doesn't conduct electricity. When light occurs transistor conducts current and alert is risen. This means that thyristor conducted electricity to the electric bell which begins to signal intrusion. Killing the light wouldn't stop the alarm. Again, that would be possible only switching S1.


Fig. 6.5: Alarm device using a thyristor and a photo-transistor

Bulb-blinker is devised using diacs and triacs, and is represented by the schematic on picture 6.6. This circuit, enables bulb (220V, 40W) to toggle bulb several times per second. Mains voltage is regulated using the 1N4004 diode. Capacitor (220uF) is charged with the DC, so it's voltage rises. When this voltage reaches passing value (30V) of the diac, capacitor discharges over the diac and triac. This current impulse switches the triac and that lits the bulb for a very short amount of time, after some period of time (which could be custom set using the 100kOhm potentiometer, capacitor is full again, and the whole cycle repeats. Trimmer sets current level which is needed to trigger the triac.


Fig. 6.6: Flasher

Light intensity or speed control for the collector motors used in power tools, hair dryers or some kitchen appliances is displayed on schematic 6.7. Any of the mentioned devices could be encased in a box, where all components for that circuit would reside. Mode of operation is the same as the previous example. Electric filter which disables large electronic interferences generated by the triac's operation to pass on and interfere with the proper operation of the TV receiver and other devices, is based on a coil (Lf) and a capacitor (Cf).


Fig. 6.7: Light bulb intensity or drill motor speed regulator

If sole usage for this device is to control the brightness of a light bulb, then RS resistor and CS capacitor aren't necessary.

 

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