Electronic Devices (DET115)

Lab 2 Diode as Rectifier

EXPERIMENT 2
Diode as Rectifier

1. OBJECTIVE:

1.1 To understand the application of diode.

1.2 To demonstrate the characteristics of three different diode rectifier circuits: half-wave rectifier,
center-tapped full-wave rectifier, and full-wave bridge rectifier.

2. INTRODUCTION:

Assuming sine wave input with input frequency fin

2.1 Half-wave rectifier

VS ( peak )  V B
DC voltage output = (sine wave input) (3.1)

Where: V s ( peak ) is a transformer’s peak secondary voltage
V B is the barrier potential of a diode

Output frequency = fin (3.2)

2.2 Center-tapped full-wave rectifier

2VS ( peak )  VB 
Dc voltage output = (3.3)

Output frequency = 2 * fin (3.4)

2.3 Full-wave bridge rectifier

2VS ( peak )  2V B 
DC voltage output = (sine wave input) (3.5)

Output frequency = 2 * fin (3.6)

2.3 Percentage (%) error

In most practical analysis problems, a calculated value is considered to be accurate

enough if it is within ±10% of the actual measured value. The percentage of error in a
given calculation is determined using

X X '

% of error =  100 (3.7)

X
Where X = the measured value
X ' = the calculated value

3. COMPONENT AND EQUIPMENT:

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Electronic Devices (DET115)
Lab 2 Diode as Rectifier

3.1 1 kΩ resistor
3.2 1N4001 silicon rectifier diodes(4 units)
3.3 Secondary center-tapped transformer(12 Vrms)
3.4 Oscilloscope
3.5 Multimeter
3.6 Breadboard

4. PROCEDURE:

4.1 Half Wave Rectification:

4.1.1 Assemble the half wave rectifier circuit shown in Figure 3.1.

Figure 3.1 Schematic diagram of half-wave rectifier

(NOTE: Be very careful to make sure that connections to the 240V primary of the transformer
are properly protected. Note that neither of the transformer’s primary leads is grounded, while
the center-tapped secondary lead is not used in this section.)

4.1.2 Determination of transformer’s peak secondary voltage [V S(peak)] and the peak
voltage [V0(peak)] across the 1kΩ resistor:
4.1.3 Set oscilloscope to the following approximate settings:

Channels 1 & 2: 5 V/division, dc coupling

Time base : 5 ms/division

4.1.4 Apply 240 VAC (rms) to the transformer’s primary leads.

4.1.5 Connect one scope probe to the anode terminal of the 1N4001 diode (point A)
4.1.6 Connect the other probe to the diode cathode terminal (point B).
4.1.7 Record your results in Table 3.1
4.1.8 Next, we want to measure the dc voltage (VDC) across the 1 kΩ resistor:
4.1.9 Use your multimeter.
4.1.10 Record your result in Table 3.2.
4.1.11 Compare this result with that obtained from the equation for the average or dc
voltage of a half-wave rectifier (Equation 3.1).
4.1.12 Observe both waveforms. Then, turn off the power to the transformer.

4.2 Full-wave Rectification:

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Electronic Devices (DET115)
Lab 2 Diode as Rectifier

4.2.1 Then, assemble the center-tapped full-wave rectifier circuit shown in Figure
3.2.

Figure 3.2 Schematic diagram of full-wave rectifier

(NOTE: Pay careful attention to the polarity of both diodes and the connections to the 240V
primary of the transformer. The center-tapped lead is grounded.)

4.2.2 Determination of transformer’s peak secondary voltage [V S(peak)] and the peak
voltage [V0(peak)] across the 1kΩ resistor:
4.2.3 Set your oscilloscope to the following approximate settings:

Channels 1 & 2 : 5 V/division, dc coupling

Time base : 5 ms/division

4.2.4 Apply 240 VAC (rms) to the transformer’s primary leads.

4.2.5 Connect one probe to the anode terminal of the 1N4001 diode (point A)
4.2.6 Connect the other probe to one of the diode’s cathode terminals (point B).
4.2.7 Record your results in Table 3.1 and Table 3.2.
4.2.8 Then, using your multimeter, measure the dc voltage (V DC) across the 1 kΩ
resistor:
4.2.9 Record your result in Table 3.2.
4.2.10 Compare this result with that obtained from the equation for the average or dc
voltage of a half-wave rectifier (Equation 3.3).
4.2.11 Observe both waveforms. Then, turn off the power to the transformer

4.3 Full-wave Bridge Rectification:

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Electronic Devices (DET115)
Lab 2 Diode as Rectifier

4.3.1 Next, assemble the full-wave bridge rectifier circuit shown in Figure 3.3.

Figure 3.3 Schematic diagram of full-wave bridge rectifier

(NOTE: Pay careful attention to the polarity of all four diodes and the connections to the 240V
primary of the transformer. The center-tapped lead is grounded for this section.)

4.3.2 Apply 240 VAC (rms) to the transformer’s primary leads.

4.3.3 Set the channel to dc coupling,
4.3.4 Connect the probe to lead of the 1kΩ at point A.

(NOTE: If everything is working properly, you should obtain the same full-wave rectified
waveform obtained in Step 4.2)

4.3.5 With oscilloscope, measure the peak voltage V 0 (peak) across the 1kΩ
resistor.
4.3.6 Record your result in Table 3.1 and Table 3.2.
4.3.7 Then, using your multimeter, measure the dc voltage (V DC) across the 1kΩ
resistor
4.3.8 Record your result in Table 3.2.
4.3.9 Compare this result with that obtained in the equation for the average or dc
voltage of a full-wave bridge rectifier (Equation 3.5).
4.3.10 Observe both waveforms.

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Electronic Devices (DET115)
Lab 2 Diode as Rectifier

Name :_________________________________ Matrix No : _________________

Course :_________________________________ Date : _________________

5. RESULTS:
Table 3.1 Rectifier output waveform
Rectifier type Input waveform Output waveform
Half-wave

Full-wave
(center tap)

Full-wave
(bridge)

Table 3.2 Rectifier data

Measured
Rectifier Type VS (peak) V0 (peak) VDC
Expected VDC % Error

Half-wave

Full-wave
(center tap)
Full-wave
(bridge)

Instructor Approval : ____________________ Date : _____________

6. CALCULATIONS:

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Electronic Devices (DET115)
Lab 2 Diode as Rectifier

7. DISCUSSION:

Explain in brief how full-wave rectification differs from half-wave rectification.

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Electronic Devices (DET115)
Lab 2 Diode as Rectifier

8. CONCLUSION:
Based on actual and expected output, make your overall conclusion by referring to the objective of this
experiment.
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Electronic Devices (DET115)
Lab 2 Diode as Rectifier