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I recently built an AC fan speed control circuit using Atmega8a,Triac,2 nos Optocoupler and ZCD method.I am attaching the necessary circuit regarding the triac firing and ZCD.The Atmega is configured to drive the MOC3021 on falling edge detection.Please take a look.The fan speed is controlled in 5 different steps(namely-0,1,2,3,4).In 0,the micro is switching off the MOC3021 completely so the output is 0.Also in '4',the output of the micro is continuously giving '1',so that the MOC3021 stays on and the fan rotates in full speed.The speed control is done in 1,2 & 3.The speed control works perfectly on pure sine wave AC.But whenever electricity goes off and Inverter power takes place,the speed control malfunctions(Either the fan stops or it generates great hum and rotates very slowly or sometimes it work for a short duration and after then the fan stops).I saw with a DSO that the inverter is giving nearly square wave output.My question is,is this normal for the circuit to malfunction in square wave(zero cross is happening in square wave also so why is it malfunctioning??)or I am missing something??There is also external snubber attached using 39R and .01uF.

One more point i would like to add that the circuit works while on Inverter power only after Midnight or later for some random duration.How is this even possible???

Any type of help is appreciated.Circuit_regulator

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  • \$\begingroup\$ I am assuming that you don't have proper ZCD circuit; LED starts conducting once it receives Vin>Vthres(1-2V). So if you supply goes below 1-2V then you will get ZCD output. Which is true for Sinusodial AC input. However you need to check your ZCD output on DSO aswell when you run it on inverter. I think that is the problem. \$\endgroup\$
    – ammar.cma
    Commented Jun 1, 2016 at 6:20
  • \$\begingroup\$ Sorry for such a late reply....while i am attaching the scope at INT1 pin of the Micro,No major problems are detected.I think the problem is happening at the Triac drive section. \$\endgroup\$
    – S.Das
    Commented Jun 7, 2016 at 19:25

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The inverter output is square wave. And its not like 10ms positive cycle 10ms negative cycle. they provide the pulse according to the load requirement with varying the duty cycle in the 10ms time for both positive and negative cycle. so there is not proper zero cross is there.

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So that only you getting problem Normally if you operate the AC fan using quasi sine wave inverter the fan will get heat.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Sorry for such a late reply...But i attached the DSO and found that the inverter's output frequency is stable 50hz squarewave.Is there a way to drive the triac properly at squarewave?? \$\endgroup\$
    – S.Das
    Commented Jun 7, 2016 at 19:26

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