The Quadrac

The Quadrac is basically a Diac and Triac fabricated together within a single

semiconductor package and as such are also known as “internally triggered
triacs”. This all in one bi-directional device is gate controlled using either
polarity of the main terminal voltage which means it can be used in full-wave
phase-control applications such as heater controls, lamp dimmers, and AC
motor speed control, etc.

Like the triac, quadracs are a three-terminal semiconductor switching device

labelled MT2 for main terminal one (usually the anode), MT1 for main terminal
two (usually the cathode) and G for the gate terminal.
The quadrac is available in a variety of package types depending upon their
voltage and current switching requirements with the TO-220 package being
the most common as it is designed to be an exact replacement for most triac
devices.

Quadracs are a special type of thyristor which combines a "diac" and a "triac" in a single package.
The diac is the triggering device for the triac. Thyristors are four-layer
(PNPN) semiconductor devices that act as switches, rectifiers or voltage regulators in a variety of
applications.
When triggered, thyristors turn on and become low-resistance current paths. They remain so even
after the trigger is removed, and until the current is reduced to a certain level (or until they are
triggered off). Diacs are bi-directional diodes that switch AC voltages and trigger triacs or silicon-
controlled rectifiers (SCRs). Except for a small leakage current, diacs do not conduct until
the breakover voltage is reached. Triacs are three-terminal, silicon devices that function as two
SCRs configured in an inverse, parallel arrangement. They provide load current during both halves
of the AC supply voltage. By combining the functions of diacs and triacs, quadracs eliminate the
need to buy and assemble discrete parts.
Quadracs are used in lighting control, speed control, and temperature modulation control
applications. They carry performance specifications such as peak repetitive off voltage, peak
repetitive reverse voltage, root mean square (RMS) on-state current, and temperature junction. Peak
repetitive off voltage is the maximum, instantaneous value of the off-state voltage that occurs across
a thyristor, including all repetitive transient voltages and excluding all non-transient voltages. Peak
repetitive reverse voltage is the maximum peak reverse voltage that may be applied continuously to
the main terminals (anode and cathode) of quadracs. RMS on-state current is the maximum RMS
current allowed for the specified use-case temperature. Temperature junction for quadracs is
expressed as a full-required range.
Quadracs are available in a variety of integrated circuit (IC) package types with different numbers of
pins. Basic IC packages types for quadracs include discrete packaging (DPAK), power packaging
(PPAK), and in-line packaging (IPAK). Other IC package types include diode outline (DO), transistor
outline (TO), and small outline transistor (SOT). Quadracs that use metal electrode leadless face
(MELF) packaging have metallized terminals at each end of a cylindrical body. Other available
package types for quadracs include thin small outline package (TSOP), thin shrink small outline L-
leaded package (TSSOP), and thin small outline J-lead (TSOJ) package.

Quadrac-Quadracs are a special type of thyristor which combines a "diac" and

a "triac" in a single package. The diac is the triggering device for the triac. Thyristors are
four-layer semiconductor devices that act as switches, rectifiers or voltage regulators in
a variety of applications.