ST's high-temperature sensitive TRIACs achieve motor control at 150 degrees C

SINGAPORE: STMicroelectronics has introduced the first TRIACs with 10mA gate sensitivity to be specified for operation up to 150 degrees C without derating, enabling low-cost solutions for heaters, motors and other small appliances, through savings in heatsinks, and gate-drive power-supply and snubber circuitry.

The devices introduced are the T410H rated for maximum current of 4A, the 6A T610H, 8A T810H and 10A T1010H. Their low gate current of 10mA allows direct logic-level switching of the TRIAC, which saves component count and reduces the size and cost of the power supply.

In addition, the low gate current maintains high dynamic performance, maintaining specified minimal commutation and 75V/microsecond noise immunity at up to 150 degrees C. This high maximum junction temperature (Tj) allows designers to reduce or remove heatsinks in cost-sensitive designs, increase power density, and enhance reliability at high ambient temperatures.

The new TRIACs are ideal for control of AC loads such as electric heaters, inductive heating equipment, medium-power motors, and other small appliances. At normal operating temperatures, they exceed the performance of similar devices specified for 125 degrees C maximum Tj. All devices are rated up to 600V, for reliable operation in mains-powered systems.

All devices are available in the industry-standard TO-220AB through-hole package, and the T810H and T1010H will also be introduced in the surface-mount D2PAK package.

The launch of these low-gate-current devices extends ST’s introduction of HiTj TRIACs, which began in February 2008 with devices having gate sensitivities of 35mA and 50mA, and current ratings up to 20A.

The T410H, T610H, T810H and T1010H will be priced from $0.40 in quantities of 10,000 pieces, and are in volume production.