Essentials of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE 1)

MODULE 5

Diode Circuits
Name:

Student Number:

Section:

A. INSTRUCTIONS

●Accomplish the reading requirements for this module.

●Perform the activities
●Submit the report, in a pdf file, in UVLe with this format:
<SECTION>_<Surname>_<Given name>_Module05.pdf.
●Answer online quiz in UVLe.

B. LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

●familiarize the student with the basics of diode circuit analysis

●validate theoretical analysis of diode circuits
●Appreciate application of diodes in simple useful circuits such as regulators and rectifiers

C. LEARNING RESOURCES

● Lab08a_Readings

D. ACTIVITIES

1. [1 pt] Using the LTspice, recreate the circuit shown in the figures. Use 1N4148 silicon diode
and set the value of R to 1 kΩ and Vi (t)to sine wave with an amplitude of 12 V and a
frequency of 1000 Hz using a frequency generator. Display the input and output voltage
and paste the snapshots on the space provided.

a. Half wave rectifier

Figure 1

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Paste the snapshots of the LTspice circuit, vi and vo waveforms here.

Vin (Green), Vout (Blue):

b. [1 pt] Full wave rectifier. Show only the Vo.

Figure 2
Paste the snapshots of the LTspice circuit and vo waveform here.

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part of this electronic document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
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Vin (Green), Vout (Blue):

c. [1 pt] Filter Capacitor.

Recreate Figure 2 (refer to item 1.2) with an additional capacitor in parallel

with the load resistor R. Use an electrolytic capacitor and set the capacitance and
voltage rating to 1uF and 25V respectively.

Paste the snapshots of the LTspice circuit, and vo waveforms here.

Vout (Green):

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part of this electronic document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
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2. [3 pts] Application of Theories

Using vk = 1V, the forward voltage of 1N4148 diode, fill out the Table 1 below. Show your
solution for the computation of theoretical average voltage. In LTspice activity 1.1 and 1.2,
you can determine the value of the average (dc) voltage by holding the control key and
clicking the label of the trace.
Place your solutions here.

Assumption: all diodes have forward voltage of 0.7V in 2nd approximation.

 Half-wave: Since only negative voltages pass through according to the Vout result of
1.a, V ave =− V m /π . Therefore V ave =−(12 V − 0.7 V )/π =−11.3 V / π=− 3.5969V .
 Full-wave: Since output is always positive according to Vout result of 1.b,
V ave =2 V m / π . Also, since two diodes are ON at a time, V m =12V −0.7 V − 0.7V .
Therefore V ave =2(12 V −0.7 V −0.7 V )/π =6.7482 V .

Table 1
Theoretical Simulated Average Voltage
Average Voltage
@R = 1 kΩ @R = 10 kΩ @R = 100 kΩ

1.1 Half -3.5969V -3.4919V -3.5445V -3.5949V

wave

1.2 Full 6.7482V 6.3574V 6.5584V 6.7546V

wave

E. DISCUSSION

1. [1 pt] Compare and discuss the results of activity 1a, 1b and 1c.

For half-wave rectifier in 1a, only half of the cycle of input waveform gets “pass through”
the output, while for full-wave rectifier in 1b, the whole cycle get “pass through” and
also converting the negative part of the cycle to positive. Lastly, the filter capacitor in 1c
“flattens” the output of the full-wave rectifier.

2. [1 pt] In activity 1c, change the value of the capacitance from 1 to 10 to 100 uF. Discuss
the output waveforms. (No need to paste the snapshots)
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 Essentials of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE 1)

In the long run, the output becomes less “wavy” and is becoming more like constant voltage.

3. [1 pt] What does the capacitor do in the power supplies? Why is it important to add a
capacitor in a power supply?

From the previous question, the capacitor with higher capacitance discharges more slowly. The
capacitor is important in a power supply with AC input because it can be used to produce
practically-constant voltage, which are used in some devices.

4. [1 pt] In item 2, why does the value of the simulated average voltages differ as the value of
the resistance changes?

This is because in non-ideal diodes, there is actually a relation between voltage across the
diode and ON current. This is exemplified by the 3 rd approximation (V D=V T + I D R D),
which better approximates diodes.

F. Exercises

[10 pts] Show the output voltage (Vo) waveforms of the following circuits and briefly explain.

1. Series Clipper

Figure F.1

Vin (Green), Vout (Blue):

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part of this electronic document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
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This is a half-wave rectifier, except that V m =V ¿ +V 2 −V TH =10+3 −0.7=12.3V .

2. Using the circuit in Figure F.1, change the value of V2 to 5V and reverse biased the diode.

Vin (Green), Vout (Blue):

Since D1 is reverse-biased, D1 would now turn ON if V o −(V ¿ +V 2 )≥ 0.7 V . Therefore

we get V o =V ¿ +5.7 if V ¿ ≤ −5 −0.7=−5.7 V and V o =0 otherwise. This is what is
observed in the figure above. Also, V o , min =−10+5.7=− 4.3V .

3. Parallel Clippers

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Figure F.2

Vin (Green), Vout (Blue):

D1 is ON if 5 −V o ≥ 0.7 V , which means V o ≤ 4.3 V . Also, if D1 is ON, then V o =4 .3 V ,

or else, V i=V o. Therefore V o =4 .3 V if V i ≤ 4.3V and V o =V i otherwise. This is
what is observed in the figure above.
4. Using the circuit in Figure F.2, change the value of V2 to -5V.

Vin (Green), Vout (Blue):

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part of this electronic document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
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D1 is ON if −5 − V o ≥ 0.7 V , which means V o ≤− 5.7 V . Also, if D1 is ON, then

V o =−5.7 V , or else, V i=V o. Therefore V o =−5.7 V if V i ≤− 5.7V and V o =V i
otherwise. This is what is observed in the figure above.

5. Recreate the circuit in Figure F3 using BZX84C10L zener diode having Vz = 10 V, I z(max) = 20
mA in LTSpice and fill-out Table 2 with the calculated and simulated values. Show your
solution and paste your simulation on the space provided.

Figure F3

Table 1
Calculated Simulated
RL
VL VR1 IL IZ VL VR1 IL IZ

1.5 kΩ 6.8182 23.181 4.545 0 6.81818 23.181 0.0045 -

V 8 V 4545 A 6.06839e
V 8V mA -010 A

4.7 kΩ 10 V 20 V 0 -5.882 10.0743 19.925 0.0021 -

V 7 V 4346 A 0.001763
mA 55 A

Copyright © UP Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute 2020

This material is covered by Republic Act 8293 and the University of the Philippines’ Regulations on Intellectual Property. No
part of this electronic document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
means, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

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 Essentials of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE 1)

6.2 kΩ 10 V 20 V 0 -5.882 10.1072 19.892 0.0016 -

V 8 V 3019 A 0.002270
mA 36 A

Paste your solution and simulation here.

RL
Voltage divider without Zener diode: V L=30 ( ). Putting back the Zener diode,
5.1 k + R L
If V L >V Z =10 V , then V L, actual=10 V and D1 is reverse-ON, or else, V L, actual=V L and D1
is OFF.

1.5 k
 For RL=1.5k, V L=30 ( )=6.8182 V . Since V L <10, therefore
5.1 k +1.5 k
V L=6.8182V . V R 1=30 −V L=23.1818V . D1 is OFF, thus I z =0 and
I L =V L /1.5 k Ω=4.545 mA .

4.7 k
 For RL=4.7k, V L=30 ( )=14.388V . Since V L >10, therefore V L=10 V .
5.1 k + 4.7 k
V R 1=30 −V L=20V . D1 is reverse-ON, thus I Z =− 30/5.1 k Ω=−5.882 mA and
I L =0.

6.2 k
 For RL=6.2k, V L=30 ( )=16.46 V . Since V L >10, therefore V L=10 V .
5.1 k +6.2 k
V R 1=30 −V L=20V . D1 is reverse-ON, thus I Z =− 30/5.1 k Ω=−5.882 mA and
I L =0.

Simulations:

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part of this electronic document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
means, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

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G. UVLe ONLINE QUIZ

Answer the online quiz in UVLe for a quick concept check.

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part of this electronic document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
means, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

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