Department of

Computer Engineering
Faculty of Diploma Studies

Unit No : 01

Unit Title :
Diode characteristics
and its Applications

BE LAB (09EE1103)
Dr. Akshay Panchasara

Basic Electronics 1
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Basic Electronics 2
Summary of previous session
PN Junction Diode
Rectifier

Basic Electronics 3
Outline of Lecture
Rectifier
Half wave rectifier
Full wave rectifier
Filter in Rectifier circuit

Basic Electronics 4
Full wave rectifier with two diodes :
 In this type of rectifier circuit the current through the load flows in the same
direction during both the positive and negative half cycles, so this type of
rectifier is known as the full wave rectifier.
 Two diodes are required and there should be center taping in the secondary of
the transformer.

Basic Electronics 5
Cont…
 Circuit :
 Circuit is shown in figure(a) and the
waveforms of the input and output are
shown in figure(b).
 There is centre tap c in the secondary
winding of the transformer. D1 and D2are
two diodes whose cathodes are joined
together and connected to the one lead of
the load.
 It becomes the positive of the d. c. supply.
 Negative terminal of the load is connected
to the centre tap..

Basic Electronics 6
Cont…
 During the positive half cycle of a. c., when terminal a becomes positive with respect
to centre tap c, terminal b becomes negative with respect to c at the same time.
 So diode D1 becomes forward biased and diode D2 becomes reverse biased.
 Diode D1 allows the current to flow but diode D2 cannot conduct.
 Current flows in the direction a A1 K1 X Y c a.
 During the negative half cycle when terminal a becomes negative with respect to
centre tap c, terminal b becomes positive with respect to c.
 Diode D1 becomes reverse biased and diode D2 becomes forward biased.
 So diode D1 cannot conduct and diode D2 conducts and current flows in the direction
b A2 K2 X Y c b.
 Terminal X becomes the positive and terminal Y becomes the negative of the d. c.
supply.

Basic Electronics 7
Cont…
 Waveforms of the input and output are shown in figure (b).
 It is seen that the output waves do not enter in the negative direction and direct current
is available only during the positive half cycles.
 In this way two diodes are used in this type of rectifier and transformer with centre
taping in the secondary winding is required.
 Value of the d. c. voltage is double than that of the half wave rectifier.

Basic Electronics 8
Cont…
 Advantages :
1. Value of the output voltage is double than the half wave rectifier.
2. Output power is double than the half wave rectifier.
3. Only two diodes are required whereas the bridge rectifier requires four diodes.
 Disadvantages :
1. It is necessary to have center taping in the secondary winding of the transformer.
2. Peak inverse voltage across the diodes is double than that in bridge rectifier so diodes
with higher PIV ratings are required to be used.
3. At any time only half of the transformer winding is in use and during that period the
other half of the winding is inactive. Due to this, the secondary utilization factor of the
transformer is less.

Basic Electronics 9
Full wave Bridge Rectifier :
 In this type of rectifier circuit, it is not necessary to have centre taping in the
secondary winding of the transformer but four diodes are required.
 Figure shows the circuit and the waveforms.
 As the circuit resembles to the Wheatstone bridge, this rectifier circuit is called the
bridge rectifier.

Basic Electronics 10
Cont…
 Circuit :
 T is a transformer.
 Cathodes of diodes D1 and D2 are joined together
which becomes the positive of the d. c. supply.
 Anodes of diodes D3 and D4 are joined together
which becomes the negative of the d. c. supply.
 Anode of diode D1 and cathode of diode D4 are joined
together to which one lead of the secondary winding
of the transformer is connected.
 Similarly, anode of diode D2 and cathode of diode D3
are joined together to which another lead of
transformer secondary is connected.

Basic Electronics 11
Cont…
 Working:
 During the positive half cycle when terminal a becomes positive with respect to terminal b,
diodes D1 and D3 are forward biased and conduct the current.
 Diodes D2 and D4 do not conduct as they are reverse biased.
 Current flows in the direction a D1 X Y D3 b a.
 During the negative half cycle when terminal b becomes
positive with respect to terminal a, diodes D2 and D4
become forward biased and diodes D1 and D3 become
reverse biased so diodes D2 and D4 conduct the current and
diodes D1 and D3 cannot conduct the current.
 Current flows in the direction b D2 X Y D4 a b.
 Thus four diodes are required and it is not necessary to have
centre taping in the secondary winding of the transformer.
Basic Electronics 12
Cont…
 Advantages :
1. Transformer without center taping in the secondary winding is used.
2. PIV across diodes is half than that full wave rectifier with two diodes.
3. Output voltage is double than the full wave rectifier with two diodes for the same
secondary voltage.
 Disadvantages :
1. Four diodes are required.
2. At any time two diodes conduct the current in series so the voltage drop across the diodes
is double than the full wave rectifier. This becomes important when the output voltage is
less.

Basic Electronics 13
Application of rectifier
 There are various application of small and medium power rectifiers. Some applications
are as follows:
1. Circuit of radio receiver operates on d.c. supply.
2. D.C. supply is needed for variouus stages of T.V. recciver.
3. Electronic equipments like audio generator, amplifier, CRO require d.c. supply ofor their
operation.
4. It required for battery charging.
5. D.C. supply is required for electroplating process.

Basic Electronics 14
Question
1. What is function of rectifier?
2. What is function of centre tap transformer?
3. What is ripple frequency?
4. How many number of diode required in bridge rectifier?
5. What is use of filter in rectifier?
6. What is PIV ?

Basic Electronics 15
Summary of Lecture
Rectifier
Half wave rectifier
Full wave rectifier

Basic Electronics 16
Next Session
Filter in Rectifier circuit
Types of filter

Basic Electronics 17
 Questions?

Basic Electronics 18