Skip to main content
3 of 3
Fixed links at the bottom.
Transistor
  • 180.5k
  • 14
  • 194
  • 417

Littlefuse's Phase Control Using Thyristors is an excellent reference on the subject of both thyristors and triacs.

enter image description here

Littlefuse's application note suggests two 100 Ω with a filtering capacitor.

You can omit C1 but may find the circuit more prone to triggering by noise. For 230 V operation double the resistor values.

You also need to calculate and include Rin. Typically you should aim for 10 mA through the infrared opto-LED.

enter image description here

Figure 2. The LED loadline chart. Source: Loadline resistance calculation. (Disclaimer.)

For 10 mA in the infrared opto-LED, slide across from 10 on the If axis to the IR LED curve and pick the closed loadline: 390 Ω in this case. That's your Rin value.

Other links:


Update: I forgot to mention, triacs don't have a base. They have a "gate". "Base" is reserved for transistors.

Transistor
  • 180.5k
  • 14
  • 194
  • 417