EXPERIMENT NO.
4
Full wave Rectifier
AIM: To observe waveform at the output of bridge rectifier with and without filter
capacitor. To measure DC voltage, DC current, ripple factor with and without filter
capacitor
Theory:
The Bridge rectifier is a circuit, which converts an ac voltage to dc voltage using both
half cycles of the input ac voltage. The Bridge rectifier circuit is shown in the
following figure.
The circuit has four diodes connected to form a bridge. The ac input voltage is
applied to the diagonally opposite ends of the bridge. The load resistance is
connected between the other two ends of the bridge. For the positive half cycle of the
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input ac voltage, diodes D1 and D2 conduct, whereas diodes D3 and D4 remain in
the OFF state. The conducting diodes will be in series with the load resistance RL
and hence the load current flows through RL. For the negative half cycle of the input
ac voltage, diodes D3 and D4 conduct whereas, D1 and D2 remain OFF. The
conducting diodes D3 and D4 will be in series with the load resistance RL and hence
the current flows through RL in the same direction as in the previous half cycle. Thus
a bi-directional wave is converted into a unidirectional wave.
The circuit diagram of the bridge rectifier with filter capacitor is shown in the
following figure. When capacitor charges during the first cycle, surge current flows
because initially capacitor acts like a short circuit. Thus, surge current is very large.
If surge current exceeds rated current capacity of the diode it can damage the diode.
To limit surge current surge resistance is used in series as shown in the figure.
Similar surge resistance can be used in half wave as well as center-tapped full wave
rectifier also.
Bridge rectifier package (combination of four diodes in form of bridge) is easily
available in the market for various current capacities ranging from 500 mA to 30A.
For laboratory purpose you can use 1A package.
Advantages of bridge rectifier:
No center tap is required in the transformer secondary hence transformer design is
simple. If stepping up and stepping down not required than transformer can be
eliminated. (In SMPS used in TV and computer, 230V is directly applied to the input
of bridge rectifier).
The PIV of the diode is half than in center tap full wave rectifier
Transformer utilization factor is higher than in center tapped full wave rectifier
Smaller size transformer required for given capacity because transformer is utilized
effectively during both AC cycles.
List of components:
[1] Transformer 12 V AC, 500 mA
[2] Diode 1N4007 ---- 4 No. or 1 A bridge rectifier package
[3] Resistor 10K [4] Capacitor 1000μF [5] Toggle Switch
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Construct circuit on the general-purpose PCB. Keep toggle switch OFF to perform
practical of full wave rectifier without filter capacitor and ON to connect filter
capacitor.
:: WORKSHEET ::
Waveforms:
[1] Without filter capacitor:
Input Waveform at secondary of transformer:
Output waveform:
[1] With filter capacitor:
Input Waveform at secondary of transformer:
Output waveform:
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Observations:
[1] Without filter capacitor
AC Input voltage (rms) Vrms= ___________
DC output voltage VDC = ___________
DC current: IDC =______________
AC output voltage (Ripple voltage) Vr: __________
Ripple factor: (Vr/VDC) = ______________
[2] With filter capacitor
AC Input voltage (rms) Vrms= ___________
DC output voltage VDC = ___________
DC current: IDC =______________
AC output voltage (Ripple voltage) Vr: __________
Ripple factor: (Vr/VDC) = ______________ Conclusion:
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Questions:
[1] What is the mathematical expression for ripple factor. What is the ripple factorof
bridge rectifier without filter capacitor?
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[2] What is the mathematical relationship between rms AC input and DC output
from the bridge rectifier with and without filter capacitor? If transformer of 24V
is used, what is the DC output voltage with and without filter capacitor?
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[3] What is the PIV necessary for the diode if transformer of 12-0-12 V is used ?
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[4] What is the efficiency of full wave bridge rectifier?
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