# How to calculate RMS voltage from triac phase angle

1. Jan 31, 2012

### DC12

Hi,
In a system that uses a triac to switch mains voltage, how can one calculate the resultant peak voltage, RMS voltage and power for a given phase (conduction) angle e.g. 50°?

Many thanks

2. Jan 31, 2012

### I_am_learning

in the usual way. Draw the output wave form graphs. That will directly give you peak.
RMS volatge = Sqrt of avg of square of instantaneous voltage. This you calculate by integration. And for finding the power, you need wave-form of current as well.
The you find power = Avg of ( V(instantaneous) * I(instantaneous) ) over a cycle.
In short, you need to do some work. :)
And, welcome of PF.

3. Jan 31, 2012

### DC12

Drawing graphs is one way but I need a more technical solution. I need the formula!

Just a mathematical way to calculate the peak voltage based on a phase angle would be sufficient.
Here's hoping...

4. Jan 31, 2012

### I_am_learning

DC12, I believe if you draw some graphs of output voltage wave-forms for few values of firing angle (like, 30, 90, 150, 300 etc), then the formula you are trying to find will be apparent.
Sorry, but we can't do your homework here.

5. Jan 31, 2012

### DC12

Thanks again I_am_learning. Graphs don't help at all. This needs to be done many times for many different levels and numerous angles - I just don't have enough ink and paper. No homework being done here sir.

6. Jan 31, 2012

### DragonPetter

I think he's saying just work out one or a few cases, and find the relationships. Then you can apply what you see to a general case. I would tell you, but I don't know an equation for this off the top of my head.

7. Jan 31, 2012

### Jony130

I think that equation for RMS voltage across the load look like this:

$$V_{load} = Vpeak *\sqrt{\frac{2 \pi - 2 \varphi + sin2 \varphi}{4\pi}}$$

Where $$\varphi - triac- angle- delay = triggering -angle$$ .

$$for-0\varphi - triac- is- full- on$$ .

$$And for- \frac{\pi}{2} V_{load} = Vpeak/2$$ .

Or use this graph

Last edited: Jan 31, 2012
8. Jan 31, 2012

### Jony130

I thought that I shows some example.
For V = 230V we have 325V peak and conduction angle 50° so the triggering angle must be equal to 130°.

First we must convert 130° degrees to radians:

r = 130 * ∏/180 = 130 * 0.0174 = 2.26 [rad]

I use Wolframalpha
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=sqr(+(2pi+-+2*2.26+++sin(2*2.26))/(4pi)+)

but you could use Google too

Code (Text):
sqr( (2pi - 2*2.26 + sin(2*2.26))/(4pi) )
Vload = 325V * √ ( (2*pi - 2*r + sin(2r) ) / (4pi) ) = 325V * 0.249 = 80.9Vrms

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Last edited: Jan 31, 2012
9. Jan 31, 2012

### sophiecentaur

You can calculate RMS by integrating the sin2θ function over the active time of the switch. Thats where the √2 comes from over the whole cycle.
The peak value is just the value of the sin(θ) at the turn on time.
This assumes a resistive load, of course.

10. Jan 31, 2012

### DC12

Perfect. Thanks Jony130 and others!