Optimal way to turn off a triac

[thankz]

I'm trying to use a triac to turn on mains power (fused) with and opto-isolator but what is a good method to turn it off, high on low off, I'm not trying to short the mains or use a bjt on high power ac. if someone could give me a hint i'll figure it out from there.

thanks.

edit: no relays

 

[meBigGuy]

You are asking how to make a solid state relay.

Just google "triac light switch" and look at the images to find one that looks like what you want to do.

 

[thankz]

I think this is what I'm looking for.

@meBigGuy
http://www.soloelectronica.net/PDF/moc3020.pdf
maybe I don't know how to read datasheets anymore but it seems to be rated at 100ma, I need 15 amps

 

[meBigGuy]

I was just illustrating the concept. It helps if you don't keep secrets in the original post.

Did you look at figure 5,6, or 7 in the moc3020 datsheet you linked to?

Or, try figure 12 in the datasheet for the part you just posted a circuit for.
https://www.fairchildsemi.com/datasheets/MO/MOC3041M.pdf

It shows how to use the optically isolated driver to drive a power triac, which is what you need to do.

Have you read anything about triacs? Maybe this will help.
http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/power/triac.html

Here is a "make your own solid state relay" tutorial.
http://letsmakerobots.com/node/38000

 

[thankz]

although I haven't read about triacs in a while I know their not what I want to use, half conduction was not what I was looking for, plus theirs still the problem with turning them off and just briefly looking at the datasheets and tuts about them they come with to many problems that I just don't feel like dealing with right now. this may be a dumb question but what do those figures have to do with anything?

 

[jim hardy]

? half conduction ? turn them off ?

maybe you need to read a little about triacs.
They're bidirectional.
They turn themselves off, just remove drive and wait for next sinewave zero crossing.

If you want to turn it off mid-cycle you'll have to add a commutating circuit.