1.

2 Full wave rectifier (center tapped)

1.2.1. Aim:

Current (Idc), Power (P), Ripple factor and to observe the input and output wave forms.

1.2.2. Apparatus:

 Diode 1N4007

 Connecting wires

 Bread board trainer

 Centre tapped transformer

 Cathode Ray Oscilloscope (CRO)

 Resistors (1K, 10K,560K, 100K)

1.2.3. Theory:

A full wave rectifier is a rectifier which converts both half cycles of AC current into DC. A center
tapped full wave rectifier uses a center tapped transformer and two diodes to convert and to the
complete AC signal into DC signal.

When input AC voltage is applied, the secondary winding of the center tapped transformer divides
the input AC voltage into two parts: positive and negative.

During the positive half cycle, the current flows only in the upper part of the circuit while the lower
part of the circuit there is no current to the load because the diode D2 is reverse biased.

During the negative half cycle, current flows only in the lower part of the circuit while the upper part
of the circuit has no current to the load because the diode D1 is reverse biased. A small voltage is
wasted at the D1 and D2 when making

The voltage is very small as compared to the voltage at the output, so this voltage is neglected. The
diodes D1 and D2 are commonly connected to the load RL, so the load current is the sum of individual
diode currents. The value of the pulsating direct current changes with respect to time. This is due to
the ripples in the output signal. These ripples can be reduced by using filters such as capacitor and
inductor.

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As a result, more than half of the voltage is wasted but in full wave rectifier, both half cycles are
allowed at the same time. So, no signal is wasted in a full wave rectifier. The output DC signal in full
wave rectifier has fewer ripples than the half wave rectifier.

1.2.4 Circuit diagram:

Figure 1.4 – Full Wave Rectifier using Centered Taped Transformer

1.2.5 Procedure:

i) Set up the full-wave rectifier circuit as shown in the circuit diagram.

ii) Connect the primary side of the step -down transformer to the AC source and secondary

to the input of the circuit.

iii) Measure Vdc from the input terminal. Multiplying the Vac at the input by √2 to get the peak

value Vm and calculate Vdc using the formula:

o Vdc= 2Vm/ π.

Compare this value with the measured Vdc at the output.

iv) Calculating the ripple factor, power consumption, current through load (𝐈𝐝𝐜 ),

𝐕𝐦(𝐫𝐦𝐬 ) 𝟐
o Ripple factor = √( ) −𝟏
𝐕𝐝𝐜

o Power Consumption = 𝐈𝐝𝐜 𝟐 R.

𝐕𝐝𝐜
o Current through Load= 𝐈𝐝𝐜 = 𝐑

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ELE-2101P Analog Devices & Circuit I

1.2.6 Observations and calculations:

1. Input Voltage Vac = 5Volts

Table 1.2 – Experimental Values of Full Wave Rectifier using Centered Taped Transformer

Sr. Load 𝐕𝐦 rms 𝑽𝒅𝒄 𝐕𝐝𝐜 𝑷 = 𝑰𝟐𝒅𝒄 R Ripple

𝐈𝐝𝐜 =
𝐑

no. Resistors = 𝑽𝒎 /𝛑 Factor

kΩ V V A W

1 1 10.605 9.103 9.103 8.28×10−5 0.597

2 10 10.605 9.103 9.103×10−4 8.28×10−6 0.597

3 56 10.605 9.103 1.621×10−4 1.46×10−6 0.597

1.2.7 Input and output waveforms

Scale: Scale:
Along x-axis Along x-axis
1 big block 1 big block
= 5V = 5V
1 small 1 small
division = division =
1V 1V
Voltage (V)
Voltage (V)

Along y-axis Along y-axis

1 big block 1 big block
= 0.5ms = 0.5ms
1 small 1 small
division = division =
0.1ms 0.1ms

Time (ms) Time (ms)

Figure 1.5 – Input Waveform of Full Wave Rectifier Figure 1.6 – Output Waveform of Full Wave Rectifier
using a Centered taped transformer using a Centered taped transformer

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