Scribd
Upload
719 views9 pages

Full Wave Rectifier

The document describes building a full wave bridge rectifier circuit that converts alternating current from a step-down transformer to direct current using four diodes arranged in a bridge configuration. The full wave bridge rectifier allows both halves of the AC input to be rectified to produce a pulsing DC output that is then smoothed using a capacitor to power an LED. The full wave bridge rectifier provides more efficient rectification than a half wave rectifier with benefits of lower cost, higher output power, and simpler filtering requirements.

Uploaded by

s aravind
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
719 views9 pages

Full Wave Rectifier

The document describes building a full wave bridge rectifier circuit that converts alternating current from a step-down transformer to direct current using four diodes arranged in a bridge configuration. The full wave bridge rectifier allows both halves of the AC input to be rectified to produce a pulsing DC output that is then smoothed using a capacitor to power an LED. The full wave bridge rectifier provides more efficient rectification than a half wave rectifier with benefits of lower cost, higher output power, and simpler filtering requirements.

Uploaded by

s aravind
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 9

Physics project

Full wave rectifier


By S Aravind
Abstract
A Full wave rectifier is a circuit arrangement which makes use of both half cycles of input alternating current (AC)
and converts them to direct current (DC). In our tutorial on Half wave rectifiers, we have seen that a half wave
rectifier makes use of only one-half cycle of the input alternating current. Thus a full wave rectifier is much more
efficient (double+) than a half wave rectifier. This process of converting both half cycles of the input supply
(alternating current) to direct current (DC) is termed full wave rectification.

Full wave rectifier can be constructed in 2 ways. The first method makes use of a centre tapped transformer and 2
diodes. This arrangement is known as Center Tapped Full Wave Rectifier.
The second method uses a normal transformer with 4 diodes arranged as a bridge. This arrangement is known as
a Bridge Rectifier.

Objective
To construct a full wave bridge rectifier and show that that Alternating Current is rectified into a Direct Current.
Theory
The process of converting AC (which periodically reverses direction) current into DC (which flows only in one
direction) current is known as Rectification.
The electrical device used to so is known as Rectifier.

Rectifiers have many uses, but are often found serving as components of DC power supplies and high-voltage
direct current power transmission systems. Rectification may serve in roles other than to generate direct current
for use as a source of power.

The simple process of rectification produces a type of DC characterized by pulsating voltages and currents
(although still unidirectional). Depending upon the type of end-use, this type of DC current may then be further
modified into the type of relatively constant voltage DC characteristically produced by such sources as batteries
and solar cells.

A diode bridge is an arrangement of four (or more) diodes in a bridge circuit configuration that provides the same
polarity of output for either polarity of input. When used in its most common application, for conversion of an
alternating current (AC) input into a direct current (DC) output, it is known as a bridge rectifier. A bridge rectifier
provides full-wave rectification from a two-wire AC input, resulting in lower cost and weight as compared to a
rectifier with a 3-wire input from a transformer with a center-tapped secondary winding.
Materials Required:
Connecting wires

Step-down transformer

Diodes (4)

Capacitor (1)

LED (1)

Circuit Diagram
Procedure:
Initially when the A.C. is supplied to the transformer, it steps down the 220V main supply to 6 volts. It has a
capability of delivering a current of 500mA. The 6 volts A.C. appearing across the secondary coil is the RMS value
and the peak value is 8.4 volts. During the Ist half cycle of the A.C. input Diode D1 is forward biased and a current
‘I’ flows in the circuit in the direction ABCDEFGHIJKLM. During this time diodes D2 and D3 are reverse biased. So
they do not conduct any electric current.

During the next half cycle the diode D2 is forward and D1 is reversed. Hence D2 conducts current in the direction
MLKJCDEFGHIA and D1 does not conduct any current.
In subsequent half cycles of the A.C current the above processes are repeated. In both the half cycles it is clear
that current flows through LED in only one direction.

Even though the voltage across LED is unidirectional it will still contain a few A.C components. This is filtered and
made smooth using a capacitor, which filters 99% of the A.C current.

Capacitor nearly filters all A.C components from the supply. But there will be slight factor of A.C. current still left in
the output but it is negligible. The output Direct Current and voltage light up the LED.
Observations
Applications

Because of their low cost compared to center tapped they are widely used in power supply circuit.

This can be used to detect the amplitude of modulated radio signal.

Bridge rectifiers can be used to supply polarized voltage in welding.

In daily life, rectifier find use in mobile chargers.

Merits
The rectification efficiency of full-wave rectifier is double of that of a half-wave rectifier.

The ripple voltage is low and of higher frequency in case of a full-wave rectifier so simple filtering circuit is
required.

Higher output voltage higher output power and higher TUF in case of a full-wave rectifier.

In a full-wave rectifier, there is no problem due to DC saturation of the core because the DC currents in the two
halves of the transformer secondary flow in opposite directions.

Demerits:-
Full-wave rectifier needs more circuit elements and is costlier.
Conclusion
The output voltage of the full wave rectifier is not constant, it is always pulsating. But this cannot be used in real
life applications. In other words, we desire a DC power supply with a constant output voltage. In order to achieve a
smooth and constant voltage a filter with a capacitor or an inductor is used.

References
Physics – Textbook for class XII (NCERT)

Laboratory Manual of Physics

Encyclopedias

You might also like