How to calculate a Triac's power dissipation

Hello,

Is there any "rule of thumb" or simple way to calculate a triac's power dissipation?

I'm trying to build-up a simple micro-controlled 230VAC light switch for incandescent bulbs (purely ohmic) and I would prefer to understand how to correctly choose a triac instead of just taking the ones proposed in the examples one can find in the internet.

As far as I could find information up to now, it looks to be necessary to use the graphs provided in some datasheets to determine each triac's power dissipation.

But one can't read every datasheet to find out the adequate triac to use...

This AN from PHILIPS http://www.nxp.com/acrobat_download/.../AN10384_1.pdf might be very explicit for electronicians; for me, it is too complicated.

Thanks for any info

Hi, Roger

your Triac has a "saturation voltage" ... Current ( RMS ! ) flows through ...

... P = ?? * ??

Roger ... you got excuses, cause, for once you've tried to calculate before burning your components ... lol

Amitiés from France

Alain

Hello Alain,

You're right, I don't have enough triacs in stock to allow many tests ;)

Okay for the Irms but still knowing this, how must I understand the datasheet (this one, for example https://www.distrelec.com/distrelec/...-T8_Data-E.pdf)?

Witch caracteristic is the Saturation Voltage then?

I don't know witch value(s) I need to take care of to calculate the triac... sorry, I'm only a an electrician...

I found what I was looking for here http://www.signindustry.com/electric...xplainted.php3

i think most all triacs will produce about 1 watt per amp...
amgen