Triac-output optoisolator for AC load switching
The onsemi MOC3010VM is a 1-channel optoisolator with a Triac output, designed to switch AC loads from a low-voltage control side while maintaining galvanic isolation. Rated for 250 V off-state voltage and 4170 Vrms isolation, it handles line-voltage loads up to that peak and meets the safety barrier requirement for operator-accessible equipment.
Trigger current and drive margin
The LED trigger current (Ift) is 15 mA max, meaning the input side must source at least that much forward current to guarantee the Triac fires — a 20 mA drive from a logic gate or microcontroller output leaves 5 mA of margin over the threshold. Once triggered, the hold current (Ih) is 100 µA typical, so the Triac stays latched until the load current drops below that level near the AC zero crossing — no zero-crossing circuit means it can fire at any point in the cycle, enabling phase-control dimming or soft-start.
Housed in a 6-DIP through-hole package (0.300-inch row spacing, 7.62 mm pitch), the MOC3010VM mounts directly into a standard DIP socket or solders into plated through-holes on a single-sided PCB — no reflow profile needed. The 1.15 V typical forward voltage and 60 mA max DC forward current define the LED drive resistor value; for a 5 V logic supply, a 180 Ω series resistor limits current to about 21 mA, staying within the absolute maximum.