What is a Full Wave Rectifier?

A semiconductor device that is used to change the

complete AC cycle into pulsating DC is known as a full-
wave rectifier. This circuit uses the full wave of the i/p
AC signal whereas the half-wave rectifier uses the half-
wave. This circuit is mainly used to overcome the
drawback of half-wave rectifiers like low-efficiency
drawback.

Full Wave Rectifier Circuit

These rectifiers have some fundamental advantages
over their half-wave rectifier counterparts. The average
(DC) output voltage is higher than for the half-wave
rectifier, the output of this rectifier has much less ripple
than that of the half-wave rectifier producing a smoother
output waveform.

Full Wave Rectifier Diagram

Full Wave Rectifier Theory
In this circuit, we use two diodes, one for each half of
the wave. A multiple winding transformer is used whose
secondary winding is split equally into two halves with a
common center-tapped connection. Configuration
results in each diode conducting in turn when its anode
terminal is positive with respect to the transformer center
point C produces an output during both half-cycles. The
advantages of this rectifier are flexible compared to that
of a half-wave rectifier.
This circuit consists of two power diodes connected to a
single load resistance (RL) with each diode taking it, in
turn, to supply current to the load resistor. When point A
of the transformer is positive with respect to point A,
diode D1 conducts in the forward direction as indicated
by the arrows. When point B is positive in the negative
half of the cycle with respect to C point, the diode D2
conducts in the forward direction and the current flowing
through resistor R is in the same direction for both half-
cycles of the wave.

The output voltage across the resistor R is the phasor

sum of the two waveforms, it is also known as a bi-
phase circuit. The spaces between each half-wave
developed by each diode are now being filled in by the
other. The average DC output voltage across the load
resistor is now double that of the single half-wave
rectifier circuit and is about 0.637Vmax of the peak
voltage by assuming no losses. VMAX is the maximum
peak value in one half of the secondary winding and
VRMS is the RMS value.

Working of Full Wave Rectifier

The peak voltage of the output waveform is the same as
before for the half-wave rectifier provided each half of
the transformer windings have the same RMS voltage. To
obtain a different DC voltage output different transformer
ratios can be used. The disadvantage of this type of
rectifier circuit is that a larger transformer for given
power output is required with two separate but identical
secondary windings makes this type of full-wave
rectifying circuit costly compared to the FW Bridge
Rectifier circuit.

Full Wave Rectifier Output

Waveforms
This circuit gives an overview of the working of a full-
wave rectifier. A circuit that produces the same output
waveform as the full-wave rectifier circuit is that of the
Full Wave Bridge Rectifier. A single-phase rectifier uses
four individual rectifying diodes connected in a closed-
loop bridge configuration to produce the desired output
wave. The advantage of this bridge circuit is that it does
not require a special center-tapped transformer, so it
 Full Wave
Rectifier Diagram
Centre-tapped Full Wave Rectifier
A center-tapped full-wave rectifier system is made up of a
Centre-tapped Transformer, Two Diodes, and a Resistive
Load.

 In a center-tapped transformer, an additional wire is

connected to the center of the second winding for
tapping. It divides the second winding into two parts.
 The voltage at this center-tapped part is zero.
 This divides the entire winding into positive (Va) and
negative voltage (Vb) where the entire voltage is given
by the equation, V = Va + Vb
 Waveform of Centre Tapped Full-wave Rectifier
From the above diagram, the output for both positive and
negative half-cycles has been obtained.
Applications of Full Wave Rectifier
The applications of a full-wave rectifier include –
 It is used to identify the amplitude of the modulating
radio signal.
 Full wave rectifiers are used in electric welding,
polarized DC voltage can be supplied through a bridge
rectifier.
 The bridge rectifier circuit is used as it can convert the
voltage from high AC to low DC.
 They provide the power supply to the devices that
function with DC voltage such as LED and Motor.