What to do with a huge-ass TRIAC?

[technix]

When I went to my usual passive component supplier for some supplies, she gave me a used BTA41-800B 800V 41A TRIAC as a bonus out of blue.

What can I do with that?

[NiHaoMike]

It would work great to control a large heating element. In fact, that's probably the biggest use case for large triacs.

[technix]

It would work great to control a large heating element. In fact, that's probably the biggest use case for large triacs.

I cannot see me getting a 32kW heating element any time soon... That thing can switch 32kW of power.

[Wolfgang]

It could be used as a crowbar. 

[capt bullshot]

TO-243 - that's a neat small one 

Anyway, most probably at the upper end of your typical Triac rated current range.
SCRs can do more, and way better suited as a crowbar than a triac



Imagine discharging a 900V / 500uF cap through some innocent compents (such as your triac), this SCR does a good execution job here (use it as the discharge switch).

[NiHaoMike]

The 800V rating gives plenty of margin for spikes on a 240V supply and after a 20% derating on the current, a more realistic max load would be about 7.5kW.

As for another use, maybe switching the primary of a large transformer used for spot welding?

[Messtechniker]

I'd put it in my collection of trannies and alike for subsquent use at the old pensioners home when I grow old. There, to have some fun, explode a small tranny every weekday and on sundays a larger one. Will frighten the life out of the "wardens". Keep the large TRIAC for X-mas..... 
Don't forget to maintain a largish LION battrey fully charged for this purpose.

[capt bullshot]

The 800V rating gives plenty of margin for spikes on a 240V supply and after a 20% derating on the current, a more realistic max load would be about 7.5kW.

Yes, one can find a triple of them in a typical three phase powered hot water boiler, rated at total 18 ... 24kW.

[technix]

The 800V rating gives plenty of margin for spikes on a 240V supply and after a 20% derating on the current, a more realistic max load would be about 7.5kW.

As for another use, maybe switching the primary of a large transformer used for spot welding?

I think I can get a few supercaps for relatively cheap, and this thing can tank 400A pulses no longer than 50ms... And I do have a few 19.5V 3A mains switch power supply (a genuine Dell laptop power brick and two bare board style power modules) for charging the caps through a switch mode constant current regulator.

TO-243 - that's a neat small one 

Anyway, most probably at the upper end of your typical Triac rated current range.
SCRs can do more, and way better suited as a crowbar than a triac



Imagine discharging a 900V / 500uF cap through some innocent compents (such as your triac), this SCR does a good execution job here (use it as the discharge switch).

What is the ratings on that one? Megawatt scale?

I'd put it in my collection of trannies and alike for subsquent use at the old pensioners home when I grow old. There, to have some fun, explode a small tranny every weekday and on sundays a larger one. Will frighten the life out of the "wardens". Keep the large TRIAC for X-mas..... 
Don't forget to maintain a largish LION battrey fully charged for this purpose.

Brrr...

[capt bullshot]

What is the ratings on that one? Megawatt scale?

http://ixapps.ixys.com/datasheet/mcd200-16io1.pdf
216A DC continuous / 1600V, 8kA surge. More interesting for capacitor discharging is the I2t value, this gives you some hint how much energy this thing can absorb in a single pulse. Sometimes a limit for "explosive disintegration" is specified 
 At best a "medium size" for real power electronics ... Might be used for the line rectifier of a 300kW inverter / VFD.

I'd put it in my collection of trannies and alike for subsquent use at the old pensioners home when I grow old. There, to have some fun, explode a small tranny every weekday and on sundays a larger one. Will frighten the life out of the "wardens". Keep the large TRIAC for X-mas..... 
Don't forget to maintain a largish LION battrey fully charged for this purpose.

Brrr...

Naah, not brrr, rather have fun, fun, fun

[technix]

What is the ratings on that one? Megawatt scale?

http://ixapps.ixys.com/datasheet/mcd200-16io1.pdf
216A DC continuous / 1600V, 8kA surge. More interesting for capacitor discharging is the I2t value, this gives you some hint how much energy this thing can absorb in a single pulse. Sometimes a limit for "explosive disintegration" is specified 
 At best a "medium size" for real power electronics ... Might be used for the line rectifier of a 300kW inverter / VFD.

How to understand that I²t value?

[capt bullshot]

How to understand that I²t value?

Same as for fuses. We call it "Schmelzintegral" in German, it's the integral of current² over time flowing through the device. If the specified value is exceeded in a single pulse / short enough time, the device fails / the fuse trips.
Usually the I²t for fuses is larger than for (comparable) semiconductors, so the semiconductor device protects the fuse. The fuse is still there, to limit collateral damage.