Re: diac

• To: tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com
• Subject: Re: diac
• From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
• Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 01:00:16 -0500
• Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net

Subject:     Re: diac
      Date:  Thu, 08 May 1997 16:07:45 -0500
      From:  rickh-at-ghg-dot-net (Rick Holland)
        To:  Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
References: 
           1


Tesla List wrote:
<SNIP>
> 
> Does someone know what purpose the diac or avalanche device on the
> gate of a triac serves? Does it have something to do with slamming
> the triac on instead of gradually?
> DL Huffman
> 
> 

The diac or other avalanche device acts to keep the triac turned off
until the trip voltage of the triggering device is reached. This reduces
the "mean" in "root mean squared" voltage. In other words, the
*effective* voltage and current are reduced since a smaller area of the
sine wave is being used. When the triggering device's trip voltage is
variable, you have a simple fan speed control.
-- 

     Rick Holland

     The Answer is 42.

• Prev: RE: Variac vs. Fan speed control
• Next: Re: What do you say to people?
• Index(es):
  • Main
  • Thread