LABORATORY EXERCISE 3

CAPACITORS FILTERED RECTIFIER

PART I – Rectifier with Filter Capacitor and No Load

1. Build the circuit shown in Figure 1,

*T – 600 : 600 Ohm CT

Graph 1

Notice that the output of the filtered rectifier Vf does not change. It just sits at a high
level, close to the peak value of the AC input. This is because it has no load to bleed off charge
from the capacitor between charging pulses.
PART II – The Filtered Rectifier with a Load

1. Add a load resistor to the previous circuit as shown in Figure 2. The values for RL are
given in the following instructions.

Figure 2
2. Measure the amplitude of the ripple voltage for each value of RL shown in Chart 1.
Change the input coupling of Channel Two on the oscilloscope (which monitors Vf) to
AC, and increase the gain, to get an accurate determination.
For RL = Amplitude of the ripple voltage
22 K
10 K
4.7 K

Chart 1
3. Draw vr for each value of RL on Graph 2. Change the input coupling of Channel Two too
DC to be sure to see the correct DC levels of vr in addition to the ripple voltage.
PART III – How to Calculate the Expected Ripple Voltage

1. When a capacitor is charged or discharged by a constant current, there is an equation

2. When the ripple voltage amplitude (△V) is small compared with the amplitude of the
rectified voltage then the load current is relatively constant. This is I in the equation. It
has a value of the amplitude the rectified voltage divided by RL.

3. For rectifier circuits opening operating from the 60 Hz AC power line there are only two
values of △T. This is the time between charging pulses, or the time during which the
filter capacitor is discharged.

This comes from the simple formula relating frequency to time period:

f = 1/△T, or △T = 1/f

Half wave rectification occurs at 60 Hz and has a period of approximately 17 ms. Full
wave of rectification occurs at 120 Hz, and has a period of approximately 8.3 ms.
4. Let us try this out on the case done in PART II of the lab when RL was 10 K. Say the
average rectified voltage was approximately 5v. This gives a discharge current, I, of
5v/10K, or 0.5 mA. Since the rectifier scheme is full-wave, △T is 8.3 ms. The capacitor
has a value of 10 uF.

Now, we want to find △V, where △V = (I/C) △T.

Let : I = 0.5 mA = 5 x 10-4

C = 10 uF = 10 x 10-6 = 10-5

△T = 8.3 ms = 8.3 x 10-3

Then: △V = (5 x 10-4) / (10-5) X (8.3 x 10-3)

= 41. 5 x 10-2

= 0.4 v

How does this value compare with the amplitude of the ripple voltage you measure for
RL = 10 K?
Questions:

Theory Questions:

1. If the filter capacitor is made larger, then the ripple voltage amplitude is made
(larger/smaller.)

2. If the load resistor is made smaller, then the ripple voltage amplitude is made
(larger/smaller.)

3. Shjps and aircraft commonly use AC power which has a frequency of 400 Hz.

a. A full-wave rectifier would charge a filter capacitor to what frequency?

b. A full-wave rectifier would have much time between charging pulses?

Lab Result Questions:

1. Explain why the rectified voltage in Part I has no ripple component.

2. Why does a load resistor of 4.7 K cause a greater ripple voltage amplitude than a load
resistor of 10 K?