DIAC
DIode for Alternating Current
WHAT IS DIAC?
• The term DIAC stands for the DIode for
Alternating Current (DIAC), it is a bidirectional
semiconductor switch that can be turned ON in
both forward and reverse direction. The device
is a member of the Thyristor family and it is
mostly used in triggering TRIAC and other
Thyristor based circuits. The DIAC starts
conducting electric current if the applied
voltage goes beyond its break-over voltage.
DIACs are available in different types of DIAC
packages such as discrete components in small leaded
packages, surface-mount packages, large packages
that are bolted to chassis and various other packages.
Most of the time the DIAC and TRIAC are used together,
so they are available in integrated packages also.
DIAC - SYMBOL
• DIAC is given by the symbol of two
Diodes connected in parallel and
opposite to one another and has two
terminals. Since the DIAC is
bidirectional, it can’t name those
terminals as anode and cathode, the
terminals of DIAC are simply called A1
and A2 or MT1 and MT2 where MT
stands for Main terminals. Hence the
pinouts of DIAC are reversible just like
a resistor or ceramic capacitor.
Although it belongs to the thyristor family it does not have a controlling
gate terminal because they can be turned on or off by simply reducing
the voltage level below the avalanche breakdown voltage and it can be
done in both the polarities. When the voltage is passed to the terminals
the layer with respective polarity to the voltage gets activated, this
combination of both the polarities helps in operating the DIAC in both
the directions.
DIAC CONSTRUCTION
• The construction of DIAC will be quite
similar to the structure of the
transistor, but they have some
differences like the DIAC does not
have any base terminal, all the three
layers have the same amount of
doping and it delivers symmetrical
switching properties in both the
polarities of the applied voltage.
As mentioned earlier the DIAC has two terminals namely MT1 and
MT2 and it can deliver current flow in both directions. The DIAC is
made of a five-layered structure; the layers closer to the terminals are
the combination of both positive and negative layers.
जब वोल्टे ज को टर्मिनलों तक पहुँचाया जाता है तो वोल्टे ज से
संबंधित ध्रवता वाली परत सक्रिय हो जाती है , दोनों ध्रवों का यह
संयोजन दोनों ददशाओं में DIAC को संचार्लत करने में मदद करता
है ।
DIAC WORKING PRINCIPLE
Consider the MT1 terminal to be positive, then the P1 layer
near MT1 will be activated, so the conduction will be taking
place in the order of P1-N2-P2-N3. When the current is flowing
from MT1 to MT2 the junction between P1-N2 and P2-N3 are
Forward Biased and the junction between N2-P2 is reverse
biased.
Similarly, if we consider MT2 terminal to be positive, then the
P2 layer near MT2 will be activated and the conduction will be
taking place in the order of P2-N2-P1-N1. The current will be
flowing from MT2 to MT1 and the junctions between P2-N2 and
P1-N1 are forward biased and the junction Between N2- P1 is
reverse biased. Hence the conduction will be possible in both
the directions.
VI CHARACTERISTICS OF DIAC
The V-I characteristic curve of the DIAC will be in the shape of a Z and the curve
will be lying on the first and third quadrants because they conduct in both the
positive and negative polarity. The First quadrant represents the positive half cycle
where the current will be flowing from MT1 to MT2 and the second quadrant
represents the negative half cycle where the current will be flowing from MT2 to
MT1.
Initially, the resistance of the DIAC will be higher because of the Reverse Bias
junction between the layers so there will be small leakage current flowing through
the DIAC, it is mentioned as the blocking state in the curve. Once the applied
voltage reaches the breakdown voltage the resistance of the DIAC drops abruptly
and then it starts conducting which leads to a sharp decrease in voltage and the
current starts increasing, which is mentioned as a conduction state in the curve.
Most of the DIACs will be having the breakdown voltage around 30 Volts, the exact
breakdown voltage will be based on the type of the device. The DIAC will be in the
conducting state until the current reaches the particular value called the holding
current, where holding current is the minimum current that required for a device to
keep it in the ON state.
APPLICATION OF DIAC
• The main application of a DIAC is its use in a TRIAC triggering circuit. The DIAC
is connected to the gate terminal of the TRIAC. When the voltage across the gate
decreases below a predetermined value, the gate voltage will be zero and hence
the TRIAC will be turned off. A DIAC can be used with a TRIAC in a series
combination for triggering.
• It can be used in the lamp dimmer circuit
• It is used in a heat control circuit
• It is used in the speed control of a universal motor