I'm looking to turn a heater (2kW, 1-ph, 230Vac).
I have managed to do this using a triac and PIC so I can dim the heater (vary it from 0kW to 2kW) using a small POT on the PIC input.
A triac, once triggered, remains on until the next crossover point before requiring its next gate trigger. This means the heater can only be switched on in the latter parts of each mains half cycle. I need the heater to switch on from a zero crossover point and remain on for a time (set by my POT) before turning off half way through that cycle.
This means I'd be taking power from the start of each half of the mains sinewave and not at the end of each sinewave (like I've been doing using a triac).
Does anyone know anything about IGBT's? I've been told they might hold the answer.
Thanks in advance.
David Pos
I have managed to do this using a triac and PIC so I can dim the heater (vary it from 0kW to 2kW) using a small POT on the PIC input.
A triac, once triggered, remains on until the next crossover point before requiring its next gate trigger. This means the heater can only be switched on in the latter parts of each mains half cycle. I need the heater to switch on from a zero crossover point and remain on for a time (set by my POT) before turning off half way through that cycle.
This means I'd be taking power from the start of each half of the mains sinewave and not at the end of each sinewave (like I've been doing using a triac).
Does anyone know anything about IGBT's? I've been told they might hold the answer.
Thanks in advance.
David Pos