AIM: Study of a simple power circuit with Pi filters.

APPARATUS: A simple step-down transformer, two identical semiconductor diodes, a dc

voltmeter, a dc milliammeter, a load resistance box, a filter board containing capacitors and
choke coil.

THEORY:
A full wave rectifier can be used as a power supply circuit. A rectifier is a device
which can convert A.C. power into D.C. power. A p-n junction diode conducts only when its
p-side is made +ve and practically does not conduct when p-side becomes – ve. Thus a p-n
diode can act as a rectifier. A rectifier using two diodes as shown in the Fig. 1 is known as a
full wave rectifier. During one half cycle of input A.C., when end A is positive, the diode D 1
conducts. During the next half cycle when the end B is positive diode D 2 conducts. In both
the cases, the direction of current through R L is the same. So the wave form of voltage across
RL will be a full-wave form.

Figure 1. Circuit diagram for full wave rectifier with pi filter .

The output of the rectifier is not a smooth d.c. but also contains a.c. components
called ripples. The ripple factor in a full-wave rectifier circuit is determined by measuring the
dc output voltage and the rms value of the ripple voltage by using appropriate voltmeters. To
make the output a useful d.c. source, these ripples are minimize by using filter networks
which may be a simple large shunt capacitor or a series inductor or a suitable combination of
capacitors and inductors. Fig. 2 shows a π-section filter. This filter or any other types of
filters may be connected between the terminals O1, O2, O3, O4 in Fig.1 and again the load
regulation curve may be drawn and percentage regulation calculated as before.

Figure 2. Circuit diagram for pi-filter.

Formula:
The ripple Factor:
r = Vrms/Vdc = Vac/Vdc
where, Vrms = Vac = the rms value of the ac fluctuation (ripple) in volt.
 Vdc = the dc voltage in volt.

Percentage regulation:
The variation of dc output load voltage (VL) as a function of dc load current (I L) for a
given input voltage is known as load regulation curve. The percentage regulation (S L) at any
specified load current is defined by

V NL−V L
S L= ×100 %
VL
where V NL=voltage at no load current ( i . e . , wit h I L =0∨RL =∞ )
V L=load voltage at any specified rated load current

PROCEDURE:
1. Firstly, the circuit of Fig.1, excepting the filter network, is constructed on the circuit
board. The diodes and meters should be connected with proper polarities.
2. A load resistance of 100 ohm is connected, and using appropriate voltmeters or
multimeter Vdc and Vac are measured. The procedure may be repeated for a few higher
values of resistive loads, such as 200, 400, 600, 800 ohms, and corresponding values
of Vdc and Vac are measured and tabulated. The ripple factors are calculated for each
load and mean value is found.
3. Now make the load RL infinite. The output voltage is measured by the dc voltmeter V.
This is VNL.
4. The load RL is now chosen to have a suitable value such that the milliammeter records
a current of about 10 mA (say). The output voltage is again noted from voltmeter V.
5. The load current IL is now changed in steps of, say, 10 mA by adjusting R L and in
each step load voltage VL is noted from voltmeter V.
6. The load regulation curve may now be obtained by plotting VL against IL. The curve
will be as shown in Fig.3. Noting VNL and VL corresponding to a specified load
current the percentage regulation SL can be calculated by using the relation (A).
7. The circuit is now constructed with suitable filter network and the operations 2-5 are
repeated.

Figure 3. Load regulation curve.

EXPERIMENTAL DATA:
I. To find the Ripple factor:
 Without Filter With Pi-filter
Load in Vdc Vac Ripple Mean Vdc Vac Ripple Mean
ohms (volts) (volts) factor(r) (r) (volts) (volts) factor(r) (r)

II. Data for load regulation curve:

Load in Load current (IL) in mA Load voltage (VL) in Load voltage (VL) in
ohms volts without filter volts with filter

III. Calculation of % regulation from the curve:

Rectifier No load voltage Specified load Corresponding %

(VNL) current (IL) load voltage regulation
in Volts in mA VL in Volts SL
Without
filter
With filter

PRECAUTION AND DISCUSSION:

1. Before switching on the ac mains be sure that the load RL is high.
2. While varying the load RL care should be taken that IL does not exceed the
maximum permissible current.
3. The output voltage may change with IL as well as the input ac voltage. As we are
studying the load regulation, the constancy of the input ac voltage should be
maintained.
4. The smaller is the value of SL, the better is the regulation.