TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

College of Engineering
Ayala Boulevard, Ermita, Manila 1000

Experiment 2
HALF-WAVE AND FULL-WAVE RECTIFICATION

Name:
Lawrence Abram M. Alcantara

Course and Section:

BSEE – 2D

Subject:
ACEE5L-M - Electronic Circuits: Devices and Analysis 1, Lab

Date Performed:
October 11, 2022

Date of Submission:
October 24, 2022

Instructor:
Prof. Vilma C. Pagtalunan

Grade:

Remarks:
 EXPERIMENT NO.2

HALF-WAVE AND FULL-WAVE RECTIFICATION

I. OBJECTIVE:

To construct half-wave and full-wave rectifier circuits, measure and record their output
waveforms.

II. DISCUSSION:

When employed in the rectification process, a diode is typically referred to as a rectifier.

Its power and current ratings are typically much higher than those of diodes employed in other
applications such as computers and communication system.

Rectification is a process whereby an applied waveform of zero average value is changes

to one that has DC level. The DC level obtained from a sinusoidal input can be improved 100%
using a process called Full-wave Rectification. Full wave rectification converts both polarities of
the input waveform to DC and is more efficient. The other DC output requires exactly the same;
resulting in four individual junctions. Four rectifiers arranged this way are called are called bridge
rectifier. A full wave rectifier converts the whole of the input waveform to one of constant polarity
at is output by reversing the negative portions of the alternating current waveform.

In Half-Wave Rectification, either the positive or negative half of the AC wave is passed
easily, the other half is blocked. Half-wave rectification eliminates on behalf of the wave, and so
is very inefficient to reach the output. This may be the positive or the negative half depending on
the sense in which the diode is connected. This can be achieved by a single diode in a one phase
supply.
III. MATERIALS:

1- Oscilloscope
1- ½ Wat, 550Ω resistor
2- 1N4001 diode
1- Center tapped transformer

IV. PROCEDURE:

1. Connect the circuit of Fig. 2.1

A S1 D1
D
6V C
R1
B S2 D2
A

Fig. 2.1 Transformer-fed full wave experimental voltage rectifier

2. Connect the input lead of the oscilloscope to the anode of D1. The lead to point C. Turn
on the power. Close switch S1 only. Calibrate the vertical amplifier of the oscilloscope
for the voltage measurement.

3. Adjust the volt/div., time/div controls for proper viewing of the reference waveform.
Marked on the peaks of the waveform Vac as reference for phase measurement.

To waveform viewed should be identical with the reference waveform. Measure the peak-
to-peak voltage of Vac. Record it in Table 2.1. Also, measure the DC voltage, if any across
point AC. Record.
4. Connect the input lead of the oscilloscope to anode of D2. Close switch S2 letting switch
s1 to be open. Draw Vbc measure peak-to-peak voltage. Record.
5. Open S3. Now, connect the lead of oscilloscope to point D. Close S2. Draw V out and
measure the peak-to-peak voltage and DC voltage across RL. Record the result.

6. Repeat procedure 5 in vice-versa.

7. Then finally, close S2, all switches are closed. Draw the Vout and measure the peak-topeak
voltage and DC voltage across RL. Record the result.
 WAVEFORM

Vm (A to C)

Vm (B to C)

Vout (D1)
Vout (D2)

Vout (Full
wave)

Table 2.1
 A
D1 D2
230V AC 6 V AC
primary secondary
D3
D4

Fig B

Procedure

Construct the circuit as shown in fig B. using the oscilloscope, measure the Vpeak, Vout and
draw the output waveform in table 2.2

Vab(ac)

Vpeak(ab)av = 2.9985 V

Vdc(RL)

Vpeak(out)dc = 4.693 V
V. DATA AND RESULTS:
1ST CKT

SOURCE VOLTAGE

VOLTAGE ACROSS THE RESISTOR

2nd CKT

VAC

VAB

VOLTAGE ACROSS THE RESISTOR

3rd CKT

VAB(AC)

VDC(RL)

VI. OBSERVATIONS:
As per the observations, a halfwave rectifier circuit converts utilizing only one
diode. A halfwave rectifier is a type of rectifier that allows only one half of an alternating
current voltage waveform to cross while preventing the other half from crossing. In full
wave rectification, current flows through the load in the same direction with both half
cycles of input AC voltage; this might be accomplished by using two diodes that operate
alternately.
VII. CONCLUSIONS:
In conclusion, in half-wave rectification, we only get output when the diode is
forward biased; when the diode is reverse biased, we get zero voltage output, which means
we ignore the negative or blocked cycle of the waves. A full-wave rectifier gives twice the
voltage and four times the power to the load as a half-wave rectifier. It improves full-wave
rectifier efficiency, allowing a smaller transformer to be used for the same voltage power
supply as a half-wave rectifier.

VIII. QUESTIONS:

1. What is the difference of (a) half-wave rectifier, (b) full-wave rectifier, an describe its
nature and operation?
Half-wave rectification removes the negative voltage component before converting
it to direct current (DC) with a single diode. As a result, a half-wave rectifier only converts
half of an alternating current wave to a direct current signal. In contrast, a full-wave
rectifier converts the alternating current signal into a direct current signal. On the other
hand, full-wave rectification transforms the negative component of the input voltage to a
positive voltage, which is converted to DC (pulse current) using a diode bridge setup.

2. What conclusion can you give with the relationship of the input frequency to output
frequency?
In conclusion, a half wave's output frequency equals its input frequency. However,
In a Full-Wave rectifier, the output frequency is double the input frequency.

3. At what frequencies will the output waveform be half-wave rectified? A full-wave

rectified?
If the output frequency is twice as high as the input frequency, the output frequency
will be rectified in a full waveform. Half of the waveform is rectified if the output
frequency is identical to the input frequency.