MIDTERM - ECE00 Basic Electronics

(NEETS)

Engr. Jayde Paolo Castro Mirandilla

The RECTIFIER is the section of the power supply that contains the secondary windings of the power transformer and the
rectifier circuit. The rectifier uses the ability of a diode to conduct during one half cycle of ac to convert ac to dc.

HALF-WAVE RECTIFIERS give an output on only one

half cycle of the input ac. For this reason, the pulses
of dc are separated by a period of one half cycle of
zero potential voltage.

FULL-WAVE RECTIFIERS conduct on both halves of the input ac

cycles. As a result, the dc pulses are not separated from each
other. A characteristic of full-wave rectifiers is the use of a centertapped, high-voltage secondary. Because of the center tap, the
output of the rectifier is limited to one-half of the input voltage of
the high-voltage secondary.

BRIDGE RECTIFIERS are full-wave rectifiers that do not

use a center-tapped, high-voltage secondary. Because
of this, their dc output voltage is equal to the input
voltage from the high-voltage secondary of the power
transformer. Bridge rectifiers use four diodes connected
in a bridge network. Diodes conduct in diagonal pairs to
give a full-wave pulsating dc output.