# Using triacs to switch more complex equipment than just motors and lights?

Obviously triacs have been well known to be used in applications which don't really require a perfect sine wave to function.

However, what about say a triac to switch on and off more complicated devices such as phone/laptop chargers, TVs, audio equipment, pretty much everything else that you would find in the average household. I'm guessing it might depend on the front end of the power supply for the equipment, on its tolerance of its input voltage. However, does anyone have any practical experience with this?

What sort of waveform would you see if we switch a triac on, vs a mechanical relay switch? (i.e. triac switched on permanently)

To clarify, I mean a persistent on/off, in the way that a mechanical relay would be used to switch equipment on and off using an electrical signal. Probably a switch on the live line of the mains?

The TRIAC (as well the SCR) requires a minimum current which keeps it conducting, called the holding current - $I_H$. After the TRIAC is turned on, a current flows through it. When the TRIAC current falls below the holding current the TRIAC is blocked and requires another gate pulse before it can turn on again - creating a non perfect sinewave on the load (harmonic issues,...).