ES8 - Rectifiers

Objectives:

• Explain and analyse half-wave rectifiers

• Explain and analyse full wave rectifiers

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ES8 - Rectifiers
Half Wave Rectifier:

• A half wave rectifier (ideal) allows conduction for only 1800 or half the complete cycle.

• The output consists of the positive half cycles of the ac input i.e. it is a pulsating dc voltage as
the output does not change polarity.

• The output frequency is the same as the input frequency.

V p (out )
• The average voltage is: VAVG 


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ES8 - Rectifiers

Half Wave Rectifier:

This is simply a diode that is I

placed in series between a
transformer and its load.

The diode is used to simply

eliminate either the positive or
negative alternation of the
input voltage. I=0A

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ES8 - Rectifiers
Half Wave Rectifier (continued):

• During the positive half cycle of the input voltage the diode is forward biased and provides a
path for the current. This allows a voltage to be developed across RL that is the same as the
transformer secondary voltage.

• During the negative half cycle of the input voltage the diode is reverse biased and does not
conduct current. No voltage is developed across RL.

• Remember the ideal diode model! It described the diode as a switch that either conducts
(forward bias) or does not conduct (reverse bias)
PIV at tP

Peak Inverse Voltage (PIV)

I=0A
• PIV is the maximum voltage across the
diode when it is reverse biased. Occurs at
time tp in the diagram.
• The diode must be capable of withstanding this amount of voltage.

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ES8 - Rectifiers

Negative Half Wave Rectifier:

• This time the diode is facing the opposite direction and conducts on the negative half cycle of
the input signal.
• The operating principles are the exact same as the positive half wave rectifier but the polarity
has been reversed due to the diode being connected in the opposite direction.

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ES8 - Rectifiers

Half Wave Rectifier – Average DC Load Voltage – (VAVG) :

The average load voltage for a half wave rectifier is the value that would be indicated by a dc
voltmeter. It can be calculated using the following equation:

V p (out )
V AVG 


Example: What is the average dc value of the half wave rectified output voltage waveform show
below.

100
VAvg   31.83 V
VAVG

T

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ES8 - Rectifiers

Half Wave Rectifier – Effect of Diode Barrier Potential On Peak Voltage:

p ( out )  V p (sec)  VF
The peak output voltage is: V

Where :
VF  barrier potential of diode

N sec
V p (sec)  V p ( pri )
N pri

The equations above assume that peak voltage values are know. Voltages are often given as rms
values. The rms voltage can be converted to a peak value as follows:

Vp  2  Vrms

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ES8 - Rectifiers
Half Wave Rectifier – Example:

Determine the peak load voltage

for the circuit shown.
Note a silicon diode is used.

Solution:

Convert the ac input to the transformer to a peak value as follows:

Vp ( pri )  2  Vrms  2 115  162.635 V

Now the voltage values in the secondary circuit are found as follows:
Nsec 1
Vp (sec)  Vp ( pri )  162.635  81.3175 V
N pri 2
and
Vp ( out )  Vp ( Load )  Vp (sec)  VF  81.3175  0.7  80.6175 V
V p ( Load ) 80.6175
Peak load current: I P ( Load )    0.3664 A
RL 220
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ES8 - Rectifiers
Troubleshooting – half wave bridge rectifier:
• The waveforms shown are for oscilloscope voltage
measurements taken after the rectifier diode D1,
which is shown in the circuit diagram below.

• Good diode.

• Shorted diode.

• Open diode.

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ES8 - Rectifiers
Full Wave Rectifier:

• Allows current to flow during both the positive and negative half cycles or the full 3600.

• The output is a dc voltage that pulsates every half cycle of the input.

• The output frequency is twice the input frequency.

2V p ( out )
• The average voltage is: VAVG 


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ES8 - Rectifiers
Full Wave Bridge Rectifier

• This rectifier takes advantage of the full output of the secondary winding.
• This rectifier uses four diodes as shown in the figure shown below.

• When the input voltage is positive

diodes D1 & D2 are forward biased
and D3 & D4 are reversed biased.

• When the input voltage is negative

diodes D3 & D4 are forward biased
and diodes D1 & D2 reverse biased.

• A full wave rectified output voltage

appears across RL.

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ES8 - Rectifiers

The Full Wave Bridge Rectifier – Bridge Output Voltage

As seen from the previous diagram, two diodes are always in series with the load resistor during
both the positive and negative half cycles. The peak output voltage is equal to the peak secondary
voltage minus the two diode drops. Therefore:

V p ( out )  V p (sec)  2VF

Where :
VF  barrier potential of diode

N sec
V p (sec)  V p ( pri )
N pri

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ES8 - Rectifiers
The Full Wave Bridge Rectifier – Peak Inverse Voltage (PIV):

(i) D3 & D4 have a peak inverse voltage equal to the peak secondary voltage less one diode drop:
PIV  V p (sec)  VF Where : VF  barrier potential of diode

(ii) The peak secondary voltage is equal to the peak output voltage plus two diode drops:

V p (sec)  V p ( out )  2VF Where : VF  barrier potential of diode

• Therefore PIV is: PIV  V p (sec)  VF  V p ( out )  2VF  VF  V p ( out )  VF

• In summary:

PIV  V p (sec)  VF
OR
PIV  V p ( out )  VF

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ES8 - Rectifiers
Example - Full Wave Bridge Rectifier:
1. Calculate the peak and average dc load
voltage and current values for the
circuit shown.
2. Calculate the PIV for diode D2.
Assume that all diodes are silicon diodes.
Solution:
Peak primary voltage is: Vp ( pri )  2 12  16.97 V

N sec 2
Peak secondary voltage is: V p (sec)  V p ( pri )  (16.97)  33.94
N pri 1

Peak load voltage is: V p ( out )  V p ( Load )  V p (sec)  1.4V  33.94  1.4  32.54 V

V p ( Load ) 32.54
Peak load current is: I p ( out )    0.00271 A or 2.71 mA
RL 12 103
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ES8 - Rectifiers
Example - Full Wave Bridge Rectifier
(continued):
1. Calculate the peak and average dc load
voltage and current values for
the circuit shown.
2. Calculate the PIV for diode D2.
Assume that all diodes are silicon diodes.
Solution (continued):
2V p ( Load ) 2(32.54)
The average dc load voltage is: VLoad ( Avg )    20.72 V
 

V( Avg ) Load 20.72

The average dc load current is: I Load ( Avg )    0.00207 A or 2.07 mA
RL 12 103

The PIV for D2 is: PIV  Vp (sec)  VF  33.94  0.7  33.24 V

OR

Jim Duffy - Technological University Dublin PIV  Vp ( out )  VF  32.54  0.7  33.24 V 15

ES8 - Rectifiers
Troubleshooting – full wave bridge rectifier:
• The waveforms shown are for oscilloscope voltage
measurements taken after the rectifier diode D1,
which is shown in the circuit diagram below.

1. All diodes good.

2. Diode D3 open.
3. Diode D3 shorted.
• No. 3 produces a short circuit across the source. If not
fused properly D3, D4 or the secondary windings will burn out.

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ES8 - Rectifiers
Comparison of Half Wave and Full Wave Bridge Rectifiers:

Half wave rectifier Full wave bridge rectifier

Schematic
diagram:

Type of output waveform:

Peak load voltage: V p ( Load )  V p (sec)  0.7 V V p ( Load )  V p (sec)  1.4 V

V p ( Load ) V p ( Load )
Peak load current: I p ( Load )  I p ( Load ) 
RL RL
V p ( Load ) 2 V p ( Load )
Average load voltage: VAvg  VAvg 
 
VAvg VAvg
Average load current: I Avg  I Avg 
RL RL
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ES8 - Rectifiers
The Diode Data Sheet:

The data sheet for diodes and other devices gives detailed information about specific
characteristics such as the various maximum current and voltage ratings, temperature range, and
voltage versus current curves. It is sometimes a very valuable piece of information, even for a
technician. There are cases when you might have to select a replacement diode when the type of
diode needed may no longer be available.

Example of some information contained on data

sheet:

IFSM – Peak forward surge current

VRRM – The maximum repetitive peak reverse

voltage

I0 – Maximum average forward rectified current

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ES8 - Rectifiers

Summary:

• Half wave rectifiers only utilise half of the cycle to produce a dc voltage.

• With half wave rectifier, there is only one diodes in series with the load resistor during both the
positive and negative half cycles. Therefore, the peak output voltage is equal to the peak
secondary voltage minus one diode drop.

• Full wave rectifiers efficiently make use of the whole ac cycle. This also makes it easier to
filter.

• With full wave bridge rectifiers, there are always two diodes in series with the load resistor
during both the positive and negative half cycles. Therefore, the peak output voltage is equal to
the peak secondary voltage minus the two diode drops.

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