International Islamic University Islamabad

Faculty of Engineering & Technology

Department of Electrical Engineering

ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT DESIGN-I LAB (EE202L)

Experiment No. 3: Half and Full-wave Rectifiers

Name of Student: ……………………………………

Registration No.: ……………………………………..

Date of Experiment: …………………………………

Submitted To: ………………………………………,..

Experiment No. 3: Half and Full-wave Rectifiers Page 1

Objective:
 To calculate, measure and draw the DC output voltages of half-wave and full-wave rectifier
circuits

Equipment Required:
 DMM
 Function Generator
 Oscilloscope
 Resistors: 2.2-kΩ [Qty =2] ; 3.3-kΩ [Qty =2];
 Silicon Diodes: 1N4007 [Qty =4];
 Connecting wires
Theory:
The primary function of half-wave and full-wave rectification systems is to establish a
DC level from a sinusoidal input signal that has zero average (DC) level. The half- wave signal
of Figure 3.1 normally established by a network with a single diode has an average or equivalent
DC level equal to 31.8% of the peak value Vm. The full-wave rectified signal of Figure 3.2 has

twice the average or DC level of half-wave signal, or 63.6% of the peak value Vm. For large

sinusoidal inputs (Vm>>VT), the forward- biased transition voltage of diode can be ignored.
However, for situations when the peak value of the sinusoidal signal is not that much greater
than VT, VT can have a noticeable effect on VDC.

Figure 3.1

Figure 3.2

Experiment No. 3: Half and Full-wave Rectifiers Page 2

 In rectification systems, the peak inverse voltage (PIV) or Zener breakdown voltage
parameter must be considered carefully. The PIV voltage is the maximum reverse-bias voltage
that a diode can handle before entering the Zener breakdown region. For typical single diode
half-wave rectification systems, the PIV level is equal to the peak value of the applied sinusoidal
signal. For the four diode full-wave bridge rectification system, the required PIV level is again
the peak value, but for a two-diode center-tapped configuration, it is twice the peak value of the
applied signal.
Procedure:
Part 1: Threshold Voltage
Choose one of the silicon diodes and determine the threshold voltage VT using the diode-
checking capability of DMM or a curve tracer.
VT (measured) =____________

Part 2: Half-Wave Rectification

a. Construct the circuit of Figure 3.3 using the chosen diode of Part 1. Set the function
generator to 8V(p-p) with f = 1-kHz using oscilloscope.

b. Calculate the r.m.s value of input voltage (Vsig) and record it.

Vr.m.s (calculated) = ______________

c. In addition, measure the r.m.s value of input voltage (Vsig) using DMM and record it.

Vr.m.s (measured) = ______________

d. Is there any difference between calculated and measured value of Vr.m.s?

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Figure 3.3

Experiment No. 3: Half and Full-wave Rectifiers Page 3

e. Record the measured value of the resistance (R).
R (measured) =____________
f. Record the chosen vertical and horizontal sensitivities.
Vertical Sensitivity = _______________

Horizontal Sensitivity = _______________

g. Using the threshold voltage (VT) of Part 1, determine the theoretical output voltage VO for

the circuit of Figure 3.3 and sketch the expected output waveform on Figure 3.4 for one full

cycle using the same sensitivities as written above. Indicate the maximum and minimum

values on the output waveform.

Figure 3.4

h. Using oscilloscope with the AC-GND-DC coupling switch in the DC position,

obtain the voltage VO and sketch the waveform on Figure 3.5. Before viewing VO,
be sure to set the VO = 0V line using the GND position of the coupling switch. Use
the same sensitivities as written in step 2(f).

Experiment No. 3: Half and Full-wave Rectifiers Page 4

 Figure 3.5
i. How do the results of step 2(g) and 2(h) compare?

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j. Calculate the DC level of the half-wave rectified signal of step 2(g) using equation 3.1.

VDC = 0.318 (Vm – VT) …….. (3.1)

VDC (calculated) = ____________

k. Measure the DC level of VO using the DC scale of the DMM.
VDC (measured) = ____________

l. Find the percent difference between the measured and calculated value of VDC using
equation 3.2.
|VDC(calculated)−VDC(measured)|
% Difference = * 100% …….. (3.2)
VDC(calculated)

% Difference = _____________
m. Switch the AC-GND-DC coupling switch the AC position. What is the effect on the output
signal VO? Does it appear that the area under the curve above the zero axis equals the area
under the curve below the zero axis? Discuss the effect of the AC position on the waveforms
that have an average value over one full cycle.
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n. Reverse the diode of Figure 3.3 and sketch the output waveform obtained using the
oscilloscope on Figure 3.6. Be sure the coupling switch is in the DC position and
the VO = 0V line is preset using the GND position. Highlight the maximum and
minimum voltage levels of the output waveform. Use the same sensitivities as
written in step 2(f).

Figure 3.6
o. Calculate and measure the DC level of the resulting waveform of Figure 3.6. Insert the
proper sign for the polarity of VDC as defined by Figure 3.3.

VDC (calculated) = ______________

VDC (measured) = ______________

Part 3: Half-Wave Rectification (continued)

a. Construct the network of Figure 3.7. Record the measured value of the Resistor R.
R (measured) =___________

Figure 3.7

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b. Using the threshold voltage (VT) of Part 1 determine the theoretical output voltage VO for
Figure 3.7 and sketch the waveform on Figure 3.8 for one full cycle using the same
sensitivities as written in step 2(f). Indicate the maximum and minimum values on the output
waveform.

Figure 3.8
c. Using the oscilloscope with the coupling switch in the DC position obtain the
voltage VO & sketch the waveform on Figure 3.9. Before viewing VO, be sure to set
the VO = 0V line using the GND position of the coupling switch. Use the same
sensitivities as in step 3(b).

Figure 3.9
d. How do the results of step 3(b) and 3(c) compare?
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e. Calculate the DC level of the waveform of Figure 3.9 using equation 3.1.

VDC (calculated) = ______________

f. Measure the output DC level using DMM and calculate the percent difference using equation
3.2.
VDC (measured) = ______________
% Difference = ______________
Part 4: Half-Wave Rectification (continued)

Figure 3.10

a. Construct the network of Figure 3.10. Record the measured value of each resistor.

R1 (measured) =____________
R2 (measured) =____________
b. Using the measured resistor values and VT from Part 1, forecast the appearances of the output
waveform VO and sketch the result on Figure 3.11. Use the same sensitivities written in step
2(f) and highlight the maximum and minimum values of the output waveform.

Figure 3.11

Experiment No. 3: Half and Full-wave Rectifiers Page 8

c. Using the oscilloscope with the coupling switch in DC position, obtain the
waveform for VO = 0V line using the GND position of the coupling switch before
viewing the waveform. Using the chosen sensitivities, highlight the maximum and
minimum values of the output waveform.

Figure 3.12

d. Are waveforms of Figure 3.11 and 3.12 relatively close in appearances and magnitude?
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e. Reverse the diode in Figure 3.10 and record the resulting waveform on Figure 3.13
using oscilloscope. Use the same sensitivities as written in step 2(f).

Figure 3.13

Experiment No. 3: Half and Full-wave Rectifiers Page 9

f. Compare the results of Figure 3.12 and 3.13. What are the major differences and why?
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Part 5: Full-Wave Rectification (Bridge Configuration)
a. Construct the full-Wave bridge rectifier of Figure 3.14. Be sure that the diodes are inserted
correctly. If unsure, ask your instructor to check your setup. Record the measured value of
the resistor R.

Figure 3.14
R (measured) =____________

b. Using the VT of Part 1 for each diode, sketch the expected output waveform VO on Figure
3.15. Use the same sensitivities written in step 2(f) and insert the maximum and minimum
values of the output waveform.

Figure 3.15

Experiment No. 3: Half and Full-wave Rectifiers Page 10

c. Using the oscilloscope with the coupling switch in the DC position, obtain the waveform for
VO and record on Figure 3.16. Use the same sensitivities employed in step 5(b) and be sure
to preset the VO = 0V line using the GND position of the coupling switch. Label the
maximum and minimum values of the output waveform.

Figure 3.16
d. How did the waveform of step 5(b) and 5(c) compare?
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e. Determine the DC level of the full wave rectified waveform of Figure 3.15 using equation
3.3.
VDC = 0.636 (Vm – 2VT) …….. (3.3)

VDC (calculated) = __________

f. Measure the DC level of the output waveform using DMM and calculate the percent
difference between the measured and calculated values of VDC using equation 3.2.

VDC (measured) = __________

% Difference = __________
g. Replace diodes D3 and D4 by 2.2-kΩ resistors and forecast the appearance of the output

voltage VO including the effects of VT for each diode. Sketch the waveform on Figure 3.17
and label the magnitude of the maximum and minimum values. Record your choice of
sensitivities below.

Experiment No. 3: Half and Full-wave Rectifiers Page 11

 Figure 3.17
Vertical Sensitivity = _________
Horizontal Sensitivity = _________
h. Using the oscilloscope, obtain the waveform for VO and reproduce on Figure 3.18 indicating
the maximum and minimum values. Use the same sensitivities as noted in step 5(g).

Figure 3.18
i. How do the waveform of Figure 3.17 and 3.18 compare?
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j. Calculate the DC level of the waveform of Figure 3.17 using equation 3.3.
VDC (calculated) = __________
k. Measure the DC level of the output voltage using DMM and calculate the percent difference
using equation 3.2.
VDC (measured) = __________
% Difference = __________
l. What was the major effect of replacing the two diodes with resistors?
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Experiment No. 3: Half and Full-wave Rectifiers Page 12