The major drawback of an SCR is that it can conduct current in one direction only. Therefore, an SCR can only control d.c. power or forward biased half-cycles of a.c. in a load. However, in an a.c. system, it is often desirable and necessary to exercise control over both positive and negative half- cycles. For this purpose, a semiconductor device called triac is used.
A triac is a three-terminal semiconductor switching device which can control alternating cur- rent in a load.
Triac is an abbreviation for triode a.c. switch. ‘Tri’– indicates that the device has three terminals and ‘ac’ means that the device controls alternating current or can conduct current in either direction.
The key function of a triac may be understood by referring to the simplified Fig. 21.1. The
**control circuit of triac can be adjusted to pass the desired portions of positive and negative half- cycle of a.c. supply through the load RL. Thus referring to Fig. 21.1 (ii), the triac passes the positive