snubber resistor power rating?

How might I ascertain the optimum power rating of the resistor in a triac
snubber with an inductive load?

Let's assume worst case PF=0. The last 90 degrees of the alternation dumps
through the resistor into the capacitor. If we assume a large capacitor, the
entire voltage appears across the resistor for 1/240 of a second.

For example, using AC 120Vrms/170Vpk and 170 ohms restance with a
sufficiently large capacitor (1 uF?) to make it negligible:

If this were a continuously applied sine wave, the average power P=E^2/R
would be 170W. However, this energy is only delivered to the resistor for
1/4 cycle, so I figure we must consider the energy spike delivered to the
resistor.

Since power = work/time, W=P/T
and since 1J=1Watt*1S
and 1/4 cycle=1 second/240
then the energy pulse w=P *T or w=P*1/240 = 0.71j.

(I know, precise solution requires an integral. I rarely need to use calc,
and have forgotten most of it. Be my guest. I'd like to see the proper
solution.)

(These values were chosen for simplicity. Actual application values are
different.)

So, how would typical resistors react to such a pulse? (In this application,
it might occur as often as once per second.) Would a 1 watt resistor be
sufficient?
Would it be subject to internal arcing or other degradation?
Would there be any performance/reliability difference in various types such
as carbon comp, carbon film, metal film, MOX flame proof, wirewound, etc?
Is there a rule of thumb for the ratio of the power rating to the intensity
of the energy pulse?

(I have not seen this issue addressed in any of the rather sparse
application lit out there.)

Thanks,
Neil

 

Rule of thumb is to assume all cap energy is dissipated in the
resistor. P = C x Vp^2 x f / 2, where f is the rep rate of the
transient.

If there are two transients of differing voltage amplitude, as in
phase-lagging quench, calculate for both independantly and add
directly.

It has to be a pretty large capacitor at common triac frequencies
before R begins to affect or dominate the loss. Large resistances also
defeat the purpose of the snubber in limiting reapplied dV/dT.

Flame-resistant or fusible parts assist in safely providing for single
fault conditions. If elevated resistor body temperatures are expected,
try not to heat up the series capacitor indirectly, through proximity
or track heat conduction.

At higher frequencies and peak currents, a suitable capacitor may be
harder to find, and more expensive, than the resistor.

RL

 

"Neil Preston" ...

I've once made the mistake of just calculating the power dissipation and
using a film resistor (triac, inductive load, snubber use). They showed
beautiful little sparks after a year of 1 Hz switching. Replacing them with
(cheaper) carbon composite resistors solved the problem.
Lesson: never ignore the PEAK dissipation and current that may occur, and
check the datasheet of even a simple item like a $0.03 resistor.

Regards,
Arie de Muynck

 

Hell yes. I learned this very early on, when placing damping resistors
in series with Y caps in big EMI filters. One day we noticed a flash of
light when we switched the prototype on. We switched it off, pronto. A
thorough set of diagnostics found no problem, but we weren't
hallucinating so kept looking. And the 1R 2W PR02 resistor I had in
series with the 100nF Y cap was open circuit. As were ALL of them, in
all of the prototypes. We then asked the peak-power question, which was
something like (400V*1.41)^2/1R = oh ****, 314kW. And a
carbon-composition resistor solved the problem. HVR make some real good
ones

Cheers
Terry

 

(snip)

What entire voltage are you talking about? The line voltage? If that
were true, the entire voltage would also appear across the TRIAC, and
that is what the snubber is there to prevent. Ideally, there would be
no voltage across the resistor, and the entire inductive energy would
be transferred to the capacitor and then back, in a sinusoid
oscillation. This process would control the rate of change of voltage
to something less than the DV/DT self trigger limit of the TRIAC. The
resistor is there to limit the capacitor inrush current when the TRIAC
fires at peak line voltage. But that voltage lasts less than a
quarter cycle, as the cap rapidly charges up to nearly the
instantaneous line voltage.

At 60 hz, a 1 uf cap has an impedance of about 377 ohms. Put that in
series with 170 ohms, and the total impedance has a magnitude of about
414 ohms, so the current is .29 amperes. the resistor power is 14.3
watts.

The net current phase leads the voltage by a bit, but there is
resistor power dissipated at all times current happens, in either
direction.

The RC time constant is usually chosen to be much less than the line
cycle period, so the worst case can be approximated by assuming that
the TRIAC fires at peak line voltage, and that the cap charging surge
takes place before that voltage changes much (a DC voltage is
present).

Quite possibly, especially if the resistive element is low mass, like
a metal or carbon film. A bulk resistance (cylinder of carbon or
metal oxides) handles such pulses better.

 

The same problems occur in surface mount film resistors which can only take
X10 power for short periods of time. Kamaya Ohm RPCNN and KOA SG73 series of
resistors can withstand up to 10KW in SM2512 packages. Ohmite has an ox/oy
series of leaded parts that can go to 80 Joules. Sure nice to see a Joule
rating in resistor spec. They are a must in any power electronics designer's
tool kit.
Cheers,
Harry

 

Our three-phase, 460VAC, thyristor-controlled, DC and AC motor speed
controllers had snubbers and MOV transient suppressors. All our controllers
used the same snubber values. In two different sites (Denver and Puerto
Rico), one of the MOVs would explode and the customer would send the unit
back for repair. After noticing that the same unit had been returned more
than once for the same problem, we got to looking into the cause more
closely.

It turns out that the firing of the thyristors in conjunction with the
snubber values and line inductance can _create_ a transient, and repetitive
transients will destroy MOVs eventually. The controllers would operate fine
for a day or three, then fail. Simulation showed that we needed to change
the snubber values based on the controller model current rating.

We had no hard data showing that the line impedance in Denver and Puerto
Rico was higher than in other places, but, as I recall, simulation showed
that it most certainly could be the cause.

Pardon me for posting a little off-topic, but I thought it might be useful
information.

John

 

1 / ( 2 x pi x f x C) gives 2K65 as Z for 1uF.

A series 170 ohm resistor has little effect on 60Hz current, which
will be 90mA @240VAC, producing 1.4W static loss on a non-switching
circuit.

If this combination snubs a triac, firing at all possible line
peaks, worst case loss due to the snubbing energy, if the circuit is
damped effectively by the values used, is

C x Vp^2 x f / 2 = Pd

1E-6 x 340Vsqred x 120hz /2 = 7W

RL

 

Thank you. I forgot to hit the reciprocal key on my calculator.
(1/.377=2.65)

 

A basic question:

Is this what we are dealing with here:


R (load)
--------------------/\/\/\/-----
^ !
! )
! ) L (load)
! )
Mains !
! -----
! ^V Triac
! -----
! Trigger ckt----/ !
V !

 

Damn, someone else knows this

I am amazed at how often I see people "design" 12V FET gate drives using
little wee 0603 parts - 4R7 for example. Other good parts re IRC's CHP
series, and MMA0204/MMA0207 from several vendors.

Not all wire wounds are created equal either. peak pulse power handling
capability for a WW is governed by the thermal connection from wire to
ceramic. Shitty ones drop the WW mandrel into the slotted body and pour
gunk overtop, creating air gaps underneath. A good pulse and flashes of
red light can come out of the resistor - for a while. A good
construction embeds the WW mandrel into gunk, then coats it, ensuring no
air gaps. Vitrohm are great.

From a design perspective its quite simple though - look at peak and
average power, for every part.


Cheers
Terry

 

Hi John,

Thats a sneaky one. Heres a far less subtle problem:

I had a 2am call from Germany a few years back. One of our 400kW drives
kept blowing up - the Germans built it into a machine, which they sent
to Korea (IIRC), whereupon it promptly blew the hell out of the VDR
board. They replaced it and boom. They replaced it and boom. They called
me. Turns out Korea had some whacked form of 3-phase power distribution
(open delta? I forget - I used to have a power systems of the world
book) in which the phase-earth voltage was equal to, not 1/sqrt(3) of,
the phase-phase voltage. Poor old mr VDR lasted a few seconds then pop.
The solution - sidecutters and no VDR.

Cheers
Terry

 

I had similar problems in west Texas with some irrigation machines. You run
into all sorts of things when you work with 3-phase power. I hated it.

John

 

You've decided on a value ?

Try a few and check temperature rise. Probably wise to err on the generous side.

Pulse ratings vary a lot on vendor for power film types.


Graham

 

Most common of which was "component no longer there" type errors.

Cheers
Terry

 

Subject: Re: snubber resistor power rating?

A typical snubber (0.1uf + 100r) on a triac at 60hz produces a very small
amount of power in the resistor. A half watt carbon resistor is more than
adequate.

 

Ken Smith" ....

load?

No. It is:

----------------------------------------
^ | |
! ) /
! ) L (load) \ R
! ) /
Mains | \
! ----- |
! A V Triac |
! ----- ___
! Trigger ckt----/ | ___ C
V | |
----------------------------------------

The triac turns off at the zerocrossing of the current through it. Since the
mains voltage will be about maximum then, the snubber limits the slewrate,
preventing the turnon by excessive dV/dt.
The resistor provides damping of the turnoff efect. It also limits the
current when the triac fires at turnon:
I(pk) = Vmains(pk) / R
and this discussion is about how a 2W 47 Ohm resistor likes that hefty
spike...

Regards,
Arie de Muynck

 

AAArrghhh...

OK, here's the right drawing:

"Arie de Muynck" ...

L (mainly inductive load)
---------UUUU---------------------------
^ | |
! | /
! | \ R
! | /
Mains | \
! ----- |
! A V Triac |
! ----- ___
! Trigger ckt----/ | ___ C
V | |
----------------------------------------

 

The way I understand it, it doesn't. It turns off when the current through
the whole loop becomes zero. I guess the snubber is there[0] to let the
current continue to flow through the inductor for awhile, so that the
resulting voltage doesn't make the triac conduct on the ensuing cycle.

[0]You haven't shown the snubber in your diagram, but the way I
understand it, it would be connected from MT1 to MT2 of the triac.

Hope This Helps!
Rich

 

Ok got it.

So, the spike like current in the resistor is a current that starts equal
to mains/R and then decreases very rapidly.

Does the triac get turned on only at zero crossings in this application or
is it phase controlled? If it is turned on at zero crossings, there is a
reduced requirement on the resistor. In the phase controlled case, the
resistor can end up with 4 spikes of almost a big per cycle.

47 Ohms is a lot of resistance to solve this way but at lower voltages, I
have made resistors to protect crowbar SCRs out just a length of hook up
wire folded back on its self. The accuracy of the value isn't good but
copper wire can take a huge spike with no trouble because the resistance
is spread over a large volume and it is very thermally conductive.


I have had a lot of trouble finding any resistor that has a good pulse
handling ability in surface mount. The ones I did find were very
expensive and not very available. They were from one of the Tyco
companies.