EXPERIMENT No 4

Objective: To Study the Semiconductor diode as a half wave rectifier.

Apparatus:
Function Generator 01
Oscilloscope 01
Diode Silicon 01
Project Board 01

Theory:
A half wave rectifier is the simplest form of rectifier available. We will look at a
complete half wave rectifier circuit later – but let’s first understand exactly what this type
of rectifier is doing.

The circuit diagram illustrates the basic principle of a half-wave rectifier. When a
standard AC waveform is passed through a half-wave rectifier, only half of the AC
waveform remains. Half-wave rectifiers only allow one half-cycle (positive or negative
half-cycle) of the AC voltage through and will block the other half-cycle on the DC side,
as seen below.

Circuit Diagram:

R VR
AC

VSinwt
Procedure:

1 Make the circuit on the bread board/simulation software according to the circuit
diagram then switch on the function generator or give AC supply and set the freq
1 Khz
2 Now switch on the oscilloscope and insert the input leads of oscilloscope to the
output circuit.
3 For positive half wave rectification I connect the +ve terminal of diode to the +ve
side of battery In this case oscilloscope shows the +ve half cycle on its screen
4 Increase the voltage gradually and note voltages
5 For –ve half cycle record the readings also.
6 Also draw the corresponding waveforms.
Observations

input Diode Resistor

Output
Voltage Voltage Input waveform drop
S. NO. waveform
(volts) Vd VR

1. 5V 0.67V 4.34V

2. 10V 0.70V 9.30V

3. 12V 0.71V 11.3 V

4. 15V 0.71V 14.3V

5. 18V 0.72V 17.3V

Conclusion:
A semiconductor diode allows current when it is only forward biased. It doesn’t allow
current when it is reserve biased. So the half wave can passes through the diode. So the
output waveform shows ripples.