# Triac On state minimal Current

I've a small question about TRIAC operation.

If I've a TRIAC with IGT=5mA, Ih=10mA and IL=20mA, driving an AC Load (230VAC 50Hz).

I know that if I send a 5mA pulse to the TRIAC gate, it will be ON until load current falls under 10mA.

I also know that if I send a 5mA pulse to the TRIAC gate, load current must be at least 20mA when I remove gate current to keep the TRIAC in ON state.

But what's going on when I continuously power gate with 5mA ? Does the TRIAC able to provide less than 20mA (or 10mA) to the load ? Or Ih/IL are absolute minimal current going through the TRIAC ?

Many thanks for your answer and sorry for my bad English.

• Remember that a triac can operate in different quadrants (polarity of $A_1$ and $A_2$) and implies different drive currents. The following guide from ST offers a good overview of triac parameters and what they mean: st.com/content/ccc/resource/technical/document/application_note/… – Verbal Kint Jul 15 '17 at 8:41
• Thanks for your answer. I've read that. In my case, I will work in QI and QIV (triac controlled by MCU). I also already read the documents, but I found the voltage limitation (VT) but not for current. – Damgot Jul 15 '17 at 9:29