Electronic Principles and

Devices
Lab No. 09

Date: 02/27/2020

Submitted by: Syed Suleman Ayub (19pwmct0678)

Lab Instructor: Engr. Wahad Ur Rahman

MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

UET PESHAWAR

Lab 09: To analyze the Full wave rectifier with and without filter
Objectives:
 To study the working principal and operation mechanism of Full wave rectifier
 To observe output waveform of full wave rectifier with and without filter
 To calculate the ripple factor for full wave rectifier with and without filter
 To calculate the ripple factor at different load Resistance
 To calculate the ripple factor at different capacitor value
Equipment:
 Oscilloscope
 Variable power supply
 Digital multimeter
 Circuit board
 Function generator
 Variable resistors
 Diode
 Capacitor
 Connecting wires
Theory:
In this lab, we will study and understand full wave rectifier circuit and observe how
the output waveform changes with and without filter. We will also calculate the ripple factor at
different values of resistance and capacitors.

Rectifier:
Rectifier is an electrical component that converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC).
A rectifier is analogous to a one-way valve that allows an electrical current to flow in only one
direction as shown in fig 9.1. A rectifier can take several physical forms such as solid-state
diodes, vacuum tube diodes, mercury-arc valves, silicon-controlled rectifiers, and various other
silicon-based semiconductor switches.
Rectifiers are fundamental to how many different devices operate. Because the standard
electrical distribution grid uses AC power, any device that runs on DC power will require a
rectifier to function correctly. Virtually all modern electronics need the steady, constant power of
DC to operate correctly. Concisely, a rectifier take a current which has both negative and
positive components and rectifies it such that only the positive component of the current remains.

Rectifications:
Rectification is the process of conversion of the alternating current (which periodically changes
direction) into direct current (flow in a single direction).

Types of Rectifier:
Based on the type of rectification circuit does, the rectifiers are classified into two categories.
  Half wave rectifier
 Full wave rectifier

Half wave rectifier:

A Type of rectifier that converts only the half cycle of the alternating current (AC) into direct
current (DC) is known as half wave rectifier as shown in fig 9.2.

Full Wave rectifier:

A full wave rectifier converts both positive and negative half cycles of the AC (alternating
current) into DC (direct current). It provides double output voltage compared to the half wave
rectifier. Unlike half wave rectifiers that utilize only the half wave of the input AC cycle, full
wave rectifiers utilize the full cycle. The lower efficiency of the half wave rectifier can be
overcome by the full wave rectifier. A full wave rectifier is made up of more than one diode.
These diodes are arranged in such a way that half diodes act as forward biased for positive half
cycle and the other half act forward biased for negative half cycle as shown in fig 9.3.
There are two types of full wave rectifier.
 Bridge Rectifier
 Center-Tap Rectifier

Bridge Rectifier:
A bridge rectifier uses four diodes to convert both half cycle of the input AC into DC output.
In this type of rectifier, the diodes are connected in a specific form as shown in fig 9.4.

Working of Bridge Rectifier Circuit:

From the circuit diagram shown in fig, it is apparent that the diodes are connected in a particular
fashion. This unique arrangement gives the converter its name. In bridge rectifier, voltage that is
given as the input can be from any source. It can be from a transformer that is used to step up or
down the voltage or it can be from the mains of our domestic power supply. 

Positive Half Cycle:

In the first phase of working of the rectifier, during the positive half cycle, diodes D1-D2 get
forward biased because the positive terminal is connected to the p-type and negative terminal is
connected to the n-type, thus current flows through them. Diodes D3-D4 gets reversed biased
and do not conduct in this half cycle because the positive terminal is connected to the n-type and
negative terminal is connected to the p-type, acting as open switches. Thus, we get a positive half
cycle at the output as shown in fig.

Negative Half Cycle:

During the negative half cycle, the diode D3 & D4 becomes forward bias because the positive
terminal is connected to the p-type and negative terminal is connected to the n-type, thus current
flows through them. Diode D1 & D2 becomes reverse bias because the positive terminal is
connected to the n-type and negative terminal is connected to the p-type, thus they act as open
switches. But the polarity across the load resistor RL remains the same and provides a positive
output across the load

Output:
The output of full wave rectifier has low ripples compared to half-wave rectifier but still, it’s not
smooth and steady as shown in fig. In order to make the output voltage smooth & steady,
a capacitor is placed at the output.

Center-tap Rectifier:
This type of rectifier uses a center-tap transformer and 2 diodes.
A center-tap transformer is a dual-voltage transformer that has two inputs (A1 & A2) and three
output terminals (B1, B2, G). The G terminal is connected to the center of the output coil which
acts as a reference ground (0 volt reference). The B1 terminal produces positive voltage and
the B2 terminal produces negative voltage with respect to the G
The design of center-tap rectifier is shown in fig

Working of Center-tap Rectifier Circuit:

Positive Half Cycle:
During the input positive half cycle, the B1 will produce positive and G will produce a negative
voltage. The diode D1 will become forward bias because its p-type is connected to B1 &
diode D2 will become reverse bias because its P-type is connected to G. This makes a close path
from B1 to G through the load resistor RL as shown in fig.

Negative Half Cycle:

Now during the input negative half cycle, G will generate negative cycle & B2 will generate a
positive cycle. This will put the diode D1 into reverse bias & diode D2 in forward bias. But the
polarity across the load resistor RL is still the same as the current takes the path from B2 to G as
shown in the fig.

Output:
The DC output of center-tap rectifier also has ripples and is not smooth and steady. A capacitor
at the output will remove the ripple and make a steady DC output.

Ripple Factor of Full Wave Rectifier:

The ripple can be defined as the AC component within the resolved output. The A.C component
within the output is unwanted as well as estimates the pulsations within the output of the
rectifier.
The definition of the ripple factor is the ratio of the AC component’s RMS value and the DC
component’s RMS value within the output of the rectifier. Here the ripple voltage is nothing but
the AC component within output of the rectifier. Similarly, the ripple current is an AC
component within output current. The formula for ripple factor is:
r = Vrms/Vdc.
Vrms: the Rms voltage of AC signal at the output side
Vm = sqrt (2) Vrms
Vdc: DC voltage at the output side
Vdc= 2Vm/π

Experiment:
Full Wave Rectifier without Filter:
Procedure:
1. First of all test the diode using diode tester in multimeter.
2. To test diodes, set the multimeter to diode test & then put the multimeter probes on diode
legs such that the black probe is at cathode & red on anode. The silver strip on diode
indicates the cathode terminal.
3. If the multimeter shows a reading around 0.7V then your diode is ok.
4. We will make a bridge rectifier circuit in this experiment.
5. Connect the circuit as shown in fig.
6. Adjust the load resistance, RL, and note down the readings of input and output voltages
through oscilloscope.
7. To take output readings. Place the probes of oscilloscope across the load resistance.
8. Take the Readings in tabulated form

Ripple Factor without Capacitor:

r = Vrms/Vdc.
 Vrms: the Rms voltage of AC signal at the output side
 Vm = sqrt (2) Vrms
 Vdc: DC voltage at the output side
 Vdc= 2Vm/π

Full Wave Rectifier with Filter:

Filter is introduced into the full wave rectifier circuit in form of capacitor in order to get more
smooth and steady DC output. Its procedure is the same as given above but with the addition of
capacitor.

Procedure:
 1. First of all test the diode using diode tester in multimeter.
2. To test diodes, set the multimeter to diode test & then put the multimeter probes on diode
legs such that the black probe is at cathode & red on anode. The silver strip on diode
indicates the cathode terminal.
3. If the multimeter shows a reading around 0.7V then your diode is ok.
4. We will make a bridge rectifier circuit with filter in this experiment.
5. Connect the circuit as shown in fig.
6. Connect a capacitor in parallel with the load resistance.
7. Adjust the load resistance, RL, and note down the readings of input and output voltages
through oscilloscope.
8. To take output readings. Place the probes of oscilloscope across the load resistance.
9. Take the Readings in tabulated form

Ripple Factor with Capacitor:

r =1/4sqrt(3)FRC
 F= frequency
 R= load resistance
 C= capacitor