Experiment 4

Experiment 4-2 Rectifier Circuit
Objectives
1. To understand how diodes are used in the assembly of rectifier circuits.
2. To understand the use of capacitors in a rectifier circuit to affect its ripple and
output voltage.
Discussion
Alternating current (AC) is typically the form of electrical power that is created
by most power plants throughout the world. Huge generators and turbines spin
stators through electromagnetic fields to induce a voltage force through a conductor
causing electronic current to flow. As its name implies, the stator passes through the
magnetic field in a circular fashion, which causes it to pass through in alternating
directions. This causes the current to constantly reverse its polarity and continually
changing its voltage value from instant to instant, as shown in Fig. 4-2-1(a) (review
earlier lesson fro more detail). Although most electrical power is produced in AC form,
Direct current (DC) is typically used to power most electronic devices. DC is
electrical current flowing in one direction and is either produced chemically as by a
battery or is changed from AC as by a wall adapter. The AC change is call
rectification. Fig. 4-2-1(b) shows a DC signal; its working voltage is always constant
and stable.
(a)
(b)
Fig. 4-2-1
Since most electronic devises, such as radios and Televisions, are powered by
DC voltage, it is necessary to convert an AC line voltage delivered from a power plant
to a DC voltage at the device. The process of converting ac voltage to dc voltage is
called a rectification, and the circuit that is used is called a rectifier. Diodes are the
primary component used in these circuits. The Block Diagram of a rectifier is shown
in Fig. 4-2-2 below.
Fig. 4-2-2
There are two common types of rectifier circuits used in electronics (a triac
switch uses a third type and will be addressed later). The half-wave and bridge (full
wave) rectifiers. A half-wave rectifier circuit, as shown in Fig. 4-2-3 is the simplest
rectifier which only half of ac voltage wave is present in the load circuit. The diode in
series with the load resistance stops half of the AC signal from flowing therefore only
a partial positive cycle is present. The diode D1 is forward-biased and conducting,
allowing the current to pass through R1. On the reverse half-cycle of the cycle, the
D1 is reverse-biased and, therefore, nonconducting. As you can see in Fig. 4-2-3b
the voltage wave is a pulsating DC voltage.
Fig. 4-2-3a
Fig. 4-2-3b
For most applications it is necessary to have a rectifier supply current during

both half-cycles of the AC signal. This provides a more continuous current to the
load. A full-wave rectifier is shown in Fig. 4-2-4. This circuit is essentially two halfwave rectifiers in parallel with inputs that have a phase difference of 180 and usually
comes from a center-tapped transformer. This is not used very often.
Fig. 4-2-4a
Fig. 4-2-4b
A way to obtain full-wave rectification that does not require a center-tapped

transformer is shown in Fig. 4-2-5. This circuit is called the bridge rectifier. On the
positive half-cycle, D2 and D5 conduct. On the negative half-cycle, D6 and D7
conduct. In each case, the direction of current flow through the load is the same.
Fig. 4-2-5a
Fig. 4-2-5b
Procedure
1. Set the module KL-13007 on the main unit KL-21001, and locate block b.
2. Begin the lesson by connecting 9 VAC and all the short-circuit clips shown in the
wiring diagram Fig.4-2-6b.
Fig. 4-2-6a
Fig. 4-2-6b
This circuit is a half-wave rectifier without a filtering capacitor applied.

Use CT simulator to draw this circuit and observe the wave pattern.
3. Using the oscilloscope, measure the AC source (at the Power Supply) waveform.
To describe a waveform on an oscilloscope you need to determine Voltage and
Time values.
Determining Voltage reading:
- To measure the peak-to-peak voltage (Vp-p) count the divisions along the y-axis
from top peak to the bottom peak, and multiply by the VOLTS/DIV setting.
___5.3__divisions x 5 v = Vp-p = ___26.5___V
- Using the Bench meter set to AC volts, measure the voltage across the Power
Supply.
VPS = ___9.93_____ v
Why does the scope give you one voltage and the meter give a different voltage
reading?
1) Peak to Peak voltage give a double reading; voltage in the negative and positive
direction, so we can devide it by 2. therefore.
Vp+ = ___13.25___V
9.275
2) These still dont match, Why? As you will see in this lesson when an AC signal is
rectified into a DC signal about 30% of the work ability is lost. Therefore
the oscilloscope reads
Vp+ = ___13.25___V x 70% = 9.275 V
the meter reads
VPS = ___9.93____ V
and these are about the same!!

Determining Time reading
-The x-axis is the time variable for cycles per second (Hz)
- All AC power sources in the USA run on a 60 cycles per second frequency (60
Hz); that is the same as .06 cycles per millisecond. You may have to adjust
position knobs to line up the waveform with the on-screen grid.
- To measure one cycle (period) count the divisions from top peak to the next top
peak, and multiply by the TIME/DIV setting.
___8.3__divisions x 2 ms = T = ___ 16.6___ mSec
- Use the equation f=1/T to calculate the frequency and record as Hertz (Hz) which
means cycles per second.
f= ___.0602____mHz.
Multiply by 1K and you get __60.2____Hz
So therefore the waveform at the Power Source is approximately __9___ V at

___60____Hz.
4. Plot the waveform on the graph in Fig. 4-2-8 shown below. Use the draw tool bar
and select the curve line tool.
Fig. 4-2-8
5. Using the oscilloscope, keep the GND clip connected to the

terminal and
measure the voltage waveform at VAC in and at R4. Record and compare the
signal waves in Fig. 4-2-9.
Fig. 4-2-9
How did the waveform at R4 differ from the waveform at VAC in?
How was the diode the cause of the change?
6. Using the equation Eav = Vp-p / 2 / , calculate the average voltage

(Vp-p _26.5___ / 2)/ _3.1415____ = Eav = 4.217 v
7. Connect C1 by inserting short-circuit clip a, measure and record the output
waveform across R4 in Fig. 4-2-10a. Then replace the short-circuit clip from a
to a` and record the waveform in Fig 4-2-10b.
Fig. 4-2-10a
Fig 4-2-10b
How are the two waveforms different?

What did the capacitors do to the circuit?
Which Capacitor do you think is bigger and Why?
Compare this EAV with that of step 8, and conclude that the relationship between E AV
and the capacitance of the capacitor. ?????
Emax of C1 = 1.2 Eav of C1 = (1.2/2)/pi = 0.1909
Emax of C2 = .175 Eav of C2 = (.175/2)/pi = 0.0278
Capacitance ?????? 10uf

100 uf
8. In order to show a full-wave Bridge rectifier, replace the short-circuit clips as

shown in Fig. 4-2-11b (again, leave out the capacitors C1 and C2) and move the
negative cycle from the 9VAC power supply to the new location.
Fig. 4-2-11a
Fig. 4-2-11b
9. Using the oscilloscope, measure the voltage waveform across VAC in and across
R4. Record and compare the signal waves in Fig. 4-2-12.
Fig. 4-2-1
How did the waveform at R4 differ from the waveform at VAC in this case?
How were the diodes the cause of the change?
10. Using the equation Eav = 2Vp-p / , calculate the average voltage
2(Vp-p _4.6_ )/ _3.1415____ = Eav = 2.928 v
11. Connect C1 by inserting short-circuit clip a, measure and record the output
waveform across R4 in Fig. 4-2-10a. Then replace the short-circuit clip from a
to a` and record the waveform in Fig 4-2-10b.
Fig. 4-2-10a
Fig. 4-2-10b
C1 = 1.2 divisions x 2volts = 2.4v C1 is a 10 mf

C2 = 1.2 divisions x .2 volts = 0.24 v
divides voltage)
C2 is a 100 mf (10x more capacitance
How are the two waveforms different?

What did the capacitors do to the circuit?
Which Capacitor do you think is bigger and Why?
Compare this EAV with that of step 8, and conclude that the relationship between E AV
and the capacitance of the capacitor. ?????
Emax of C1 = 1.2 Eav of C1 = (1.2/2)/pi = 0.1909
Emax of C2 = .175 Eav of C2 = (.175/2)/pi = 0.0278
Capacitance ?????? 10uf

100 uf
Results and Conclusion

You have completed the experiment for rectifiers with or without the filtering
capacitor. The output current or voltage of the rectifier always includes a pulsating
ac the ripple that is usually expressed by the ripple factor r. The ripple factor is
defined as the rms value of the ac ripple divided by the average value of output
current or voltage. That is, r = Irms/lav or Vrms/Vav. Therefore the ripple factors of
half-wave, full-wave and bridge rectifiers are 1.21, 0.482, and 0.482, respectively.
The output voltage of half-rectifier is 0.45Vrms and that of full-wave rectifiers is

0.9Vrms.

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Experiment 4-2 Rectifier Circuit

For most applications it is necessary to have a rectifier supply current during

A way to obtain full-wave rectification that does not require a center-tapped

This circuit is a half-wave rectifier without a filtering capacitor applied.

Vp+ = ___13.25___V x 70% = 9.275 V

the meter reads

and these are about the same!!

Multiply by 1K and you get __60.2____Hz

So therefore the waveform at the Power Source is approximately __9___ V at

5. Using the oscilloscope, keep the GND clip connected to the

6. Using the equation Eav = Vp-p / 2 / , calculate the average voltage

How are the two waveforms different?

Capacitance ?????? 10uf

8. In order to show a full-wave Bridge rectifier, replace the short-circuit clips as

C1 = 1.2 divisions x 2volts = 2.4v C1 is a 10 mf

C2 is a 100 mf (10x more capacitance

How are the two waveforms different?

Capacitance ?????? 10uf

Results and Conclusion

The output voltage of half-rectifier is 0.45Vrms and that of full-wave rectifiers is

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Vp+ = _13.25_V x 70% = 9.275 V

Multiply by 1K and you get 60.2__Hz

So therefore the waveform at the Power Source is approximately 9_ V at