+-+-

EXP ERI MENT

# 4
THE BRIDGE RECTIFIER
OBJECTIVES:
1. To verify that conduction in a bridge rectifier results from the conduction, alternately, of two series-
connected rectifiers.
2. To observe and measure the input and output waveforms
3. To measure the effects of a filter network on the dc voltage output and ripple

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENTS:
1. Equipment: Oscilloscope, EVM, 0-100 mA dc milliammeter
2. Resistors: 2700-, 5600- -W; 100- 1-W; 250- 2-W; 500- 5-W
3. Capacitors: Two 100-F 50-V
4. Solid-state rectifiers: Four 1N5625 or equiv
5. Miscellaneous: Power transformer T
1
, 120 V primary, 26.8-V/1-A secondary; six SPST switches; fused line
cord

PROCEDURE:
Operation of a Bridge Rectifier
1. Connect the circuit of Fig. 9-3. The silicon rectifiers are D
1
to D
4.
T is the same transformer as that used in
the preceding rectifier experiments. Resistor R
T
is 5600-.
2. Calibrate the vertical scales of your oscilloscope at 15 V/div. set the oscilloscope on Line-trigger/ sync.
Connect the oscilloscope across CD, hot lead to C, and ground lead to D. Close S
3.

3. Adjust the time/base controls until there are two cycles on the screen. Position these vertically so that the
peak positive and peak negative alternations are equally centered with respect to the x axis on the graticule
of the oscilloscope. Adjust the horizontal centering control until one cycle is symmetrical with respect to
the y axis, with positive alteration on the left. The waveform should appear as in Table 9-1. Measure and
record in Table 9-1, the peak positive and peak negative amplitude of the waveform. They should be the
same. If they are not, recenter the waveform vertically until they are equal. This is the reference waveform.
Do not readjust any of the oscilloscope controls until you are finished with steps 4 to 7. All waveforms will
be time-related to the reference waveform.
4. Connect the vertical leads of the oscilloscope across R
1
, the hot lead to F, and the ground lead to G.
Switches S
1
through S
4
are still open. Observe and measure the waveform, if any, across R
1
in time phase
with the reference wave. Draw the waveform in table 9-1.
5. Close S
1.
Observe and measure the waveform, if any. Draw the waveform in Table 9-1 in proper time phase
with the reference.
6. Close S
2.
(S
1
, S
3
and S
4
are still open). Set S
6
to position y. Observe and measure the waveform across R
1.
Draw the waveform in time phase with the reference in Table 9-1.
7. Close S
3
and S
4
. Observe and measure the waveform across R
1
. Draw the waveform in time phase with the
reference in Table 9-1.
Filtering the Output of a Bridge Rectifier
Name: Andrea Jane Y. Pangilinan
Schedule: W 11:00am-2:00pm
Date Performed: July 3, 2013 Electronics Devices and
Circuits (Laboratory)
Engr. Romulo Roel Pinlac
Date Submitted: July 10, 2013
8. Open S
5
. Remove R
1
from the circuit. Connect a -type filter between F and ground, terminated by a 5600-
bleeder resistor Rb, as in Fig. 9-4. A 100-mA dc millammeter M measures the total direct current in the
circuit. S
1
through S
4
are all closed as in step 7.
9. Close S
5
. With a digital multimeter, measure the rms voltage across CD. Record the voltage in Table 9-2.
Measure also, and record in the No Load column, the dc voltage point F to ground, V+ to ground, and dc
current. With an oscilloscope, observe and measure the ripple voltage, F to ground and V+ to ground. Draw
the ripple-voltage wave in Table 9-2.
10. Repeat the measurements in step 9 with a 500- 5-W load resistor connected across R
B
. Record the results
in the With Load column.
11. Have an assistant place a fault in your circuit. Measure and record, in Table 9-2, the appropriate voltages
and waveforms of the circuit.
12. Determine the problem with the circuit and correct it. Describe the process used to determine the trouble.

DATA AND RESULTS:

The reference
waveform. This was
taken in order for us to
have a guiding tool in
performing the
experiment. As we can
see, it will serve as the
basis of conclusion for
the other waveforms.

The generated output
waveform when we
have tried to open all
the switches in the
circuit. The main
reason for this is due
to the fact that no
voltage flows out of
load for all of the
diodes used were
reverse-biased.

The generated output
waveform when we
tried to close switches
S
1
with switches 2 to 4
still open in the circuit.

The generated output
waveform when we
tried to close switches
S
1
and S
2
with
switches 3 to 4 still
open in the circuit.

The generated output
waveform when we
have closed all the
switches in the circuit.
As we can see, bridge
rectifiers generate a
full wave output
voltage just like full-
wave center-tap
rectifier.

The filtered output
waveform at the load
(Point F) wherein a
5.5mA
dc
current was
measured and a
voltage of 31.1 V
dc
.
This point is also
referred to as the point
from F to ground.

The filtered output
waveform generated.
This point is also
referred to as the load
from point V
+
to
ground.

The filtered output
waveform when a load
measuring 500 in
resistance is being
injected in the circuit.
This point is also
referred to as the load
from point V
+
to
ground.

The filtered output
waveform when a load
measuring 500 in
resistance is being
injected in the circuit.
This point is also
referred to as the load
from point V
+
to
ground.

OBSERVATION
I have thoroughly observed the following points as we go through the experiment:
1. The dc level obtained from a sinusoidal wave input has been improved when we have used the process of
full-wave rectification particularly the bridge network.
2. During the positive alternation of the sine input wave, the common node for the upper part is positive with
respect to the lower node. This makes the anode of D
1
positive and D
3
negative, hence D
1
and D
3
is forward-
biased. During the same alternation, D
2
and D
4
are reverse-biased. Furthermore, during the negative
alternation, the reverse happens. D
2
and D
4
conducts while D
1
and D
3
are reverse biased.
3. We have also observed that this is a - type filter which is used to smooth the output of a bridge rectifier.
The capacitors in such filters should withstand the higher voltages developed in the bridge rectifier. Also,
the amplitude of the voltage of this circuit is twice the amplitude of a conventional full-wave rectifier.
CONCLUSION
I therefore conclude that:
1. The bridge rectifier is basically similar to a full-wave center top rectifier because it also produces a full-
wave output voltage. In this case, diodes D
1
and D
2
conduct on the positive half cycle, and D
3
and D
4
conduct on the negative half cycle. This results to the rectified load current which flows during both half
cycles.
2. When diodes 1 and 2 are forward biased on positive half cycle, it produces a positive load voltage as much
as when diodes 3 and 4 are forward biased on negative half cycle, it also produces a positive load voltage.
This just means to say that a bridge rectifier acts like two back to back half way rectifiers.
3. When a bridge rectifier, as supposed to a two diodes full-wave rectifier, is used, the same dc output voltage
can be obtained with a transformer having a higher turns ratio N
1
/ N
2.
This means that with a bridge
rectifier, fewer turns of wire are needed in a transformer. Therefore, the transformer used with a bridge
rectifier vs. a two diodes full-wave rectifier will be small and lighter and will cause less. This benefit alone
outweighs using four diodes instead of two in a conventional two diode rectifier.
4. An advantage of a bridge rectifier is that it has the lowest peak inverse voltage for a given load voltage.
Wherein to produce the same load voltage, the full-wave rectifier would need twice as much secondary
voltage. The average dc voltage out of a half-wave rectifier equals 63.6 % of the peak voltage.