please could someone point me in a good direction, i have to look at thyristor (triac) firing circuits using phase control to vary the power to an AC load (lamp). Basicly a dimmer circuit, i have managed to find lots of info on dimmer circuits and constructed a reasonable working circuit.

But i cannot find a good source regarding how to pick/calculate the best value resistor and capacitor in the RC network used to move the phase angle to trigger my diac and then triac at the various degrees required. Also i am struggling to model it in multisim so any help in that department ould be appreciated.

Many thanks and any help would be appreciated

 

Hello,

Take a look in the links of this page:
http://www.educypedia.be/electronics/powerelectronicsdiac.htm

Greetings,
Bertus

 

One way to look at the problem is that you only have so much time for the charge on the capacitor to reach the point where the DIAC fires. Taking longer than about 8 ms maximum is not useful.

 

thanks bertus great info, and beenthere for the info.

am i right to understand that using Vc = V(1-e-T/t) to find the time constant for the capacitor, then use it in t = RC to find a capacitor value if i select a reasonable value for R.

I may be off with this as i am sure this is only for DC?

many thanks for your help and kind regards

 

I've used lots of these phase controls over the years, and I have found that a C of 0.33 mf and a R of 0-250k will produce a phased waveform that will control lamps, can-vacs & vibrators satisfactorily up to about 1600 VA.

Cheers, DPW [ Spent years making heaters out of op-amps.]

 

Another Resurrection.
Max.