SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY

School of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME 2251L- #05
RECTIFIERS, HALF-WAVE AND FULL-WAVE

Submitted By: Submitted To:

Engr. IREENE P. VALENCIA,
Ph.D
SEA-ECE Faculty
AVILA, CLARENCE C.

Date of Submission: 02/04/2021

III. DATA AND RESULT

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 1. C. INPUT: Ein = 4 vert div (peak) x 10 V/div (setting)
= 40 Vp-p

Period, T = 4 hor div (1 complete sinewave) x 4 ms/div (setting)

= 16 ms

Frequency, f = 1/16 ms x 1,000 Hz

= 62.5 Hz

G. HW OUTPUT: Eout = 2 vert div (peak) x 10 V/div (setting)

= 20 Vp-p

Period, T = 2 hor div (half sinewave) x 4 ms/div (setting)

= 8 ms

Frequency, f = 1/8 ms x 1,000 Hz

= 125 Hz

H. Is the output AC or DC?

- The output shown in the figure is DC.

I. Eave = Vm/π= 2/π

= 0.6366 Vdc

2. D. FW OUTPUT: Eout = √2 vert div (peak) x 10 V/div (setting)

= 14.1421 Vp-p

Period, T = 4 hor div (half sinewave) x 4 ms/div (setting)

= 16 ms

Frequency, f = 1/16 ms x 1,000 Hz

= 62.5 Hz

E. Is the output AC or DC?

- The output shown in the figure is DC.

F. Eave = 2 Vm/π=2(2)/π
= 1.2732 Vdc

3. A. The peak output voltage of a half-wave rectifier is approximately

more than the peak output voltage of a full-wave rectifier.
B. The average dc output voltage of a half-wave rectifier is
approximately
less than the peak output voltage of a full-wave rectifier.
C. The output ripple frequency of a full-wave rectifier is double the
ripple output frequency of a half-wave rectifier.

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 IV. OBSERVATION
The rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC), which
periodically reverses direction, to direct current (DC) which flows in one direction only. The
reverse process is carried out by the inverter. The method is known since rectification, as it
"straightens" the course of the current.

In this experiment, during half-wave rectifier, we can see only half of the sinewave. A
full-wave rectifier enables the entire sinewave to pass through a load. As a consequence, the
output waveform displays both half of and loop in the same direction (DC). On the other
side, the other half (negative peak) will transform into a straight line for a half-wave rectifier
that delivers insulation to power or load. These half-wave rectifiers are used to achieve the
desired amount of DC voltage.

The Full Wave rectifier generates a pure DC output voltage or current. In complete
wave rectification, the current flows through the load in the same direction for both half
cycles of AC input voltage. This can be accomplished by using two diodes operating
alternately. For the positive half-cycle of the input voltage, one diode supplies the current to
the load, and for the negative half-cycles, the other diode does so, the current is always in
the same direction through the load. Therefore, all half cycles of input AC voltage are used
by a full wave rectifier to produce DC output.

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 V. DISCUSSION OF THEORY
A rectifier is a device that converts an oscillating two-directional alternating
current (AC) into a single-directional direct current (DC). Rectifiers can take a wide
variety of physical forms, from vacuum tube diodes and crystal radio receivers to
modern silicon-based designs.
The simplest rectifiers, called half-wave rectifiers, work by eliminating one side
of the AC, thereby only allowing one direction of current to pass through. Since half of
the AC power input goes unused, half-wave rectifiers produce a very inefficient
conversion. A more efficient conversion alternative is a full-wave rectifier, which uses
both sides of the AC waveform.

Use of a Rectifier

Rectifiers are fundamental to how many different devices operate. Because the
standard electrical distribution grid uses AC power, any device that runs on DC power
will require a rectifier to function correctly. Virtually all modern electronics need the
steady, constant power of DC to operate correctly.

Additionally, we use rectifiers to change voltage in DC power systems. Because

it is relatively difficult to convert DC voltage directly in some scenarios, the simplest
solution may be the following process:

1. Convert DC to AC

2. Change the voltage using a transformer

3. Convert AC back to DC using a rectifier

In a few applications, the rectifier itself serves a direct function beyond converting AC
to DC. Take, for example, one of the earliest radio designs: a crystal radio. This device
employed a fine wire pressed against a crystal (we would now refer to this component
as a diode), which rectified the alternating current radio signal directly, thus extracting
the audio and producing sound in earphones. Precision rectifiers are still in use in
some types of radios today.

Flame rectification is another example of applying rectification directly. In this

application, a flame acts as a rectifier due to the differential in mobility between
electrons and positive ions present in a flame. We use the rectifying effect of fire on
AC in gas heating systems to direct the flame’s presence.
Difference Between Half Wave and Full Wave Rectifier
The Half Wave and Full Wave Rectifier have significant differences. A rectifier converts AC
voltage into Pulsating DC voltage. A Half-Wave rectifier is an electronic circuit which converts
only one-half of the AC cycle into pulsating DC. It utilizes only half of AC cycle for the
conversion process. On the other hand, Full wave rectifier is an electronic circuit which
converts entire cycle of AC into Pulsating DC.

The Half-Wave Rectifier is unidirectional; it means it will allow the conduction in one
direction only. That’s why either it can convert positive half only or negative half only into DC
voltage. This is the reason that it is called Half Wave Rectifier. While Full-wave Rectifier, is bi-
directional, it conducts for positive half as well as negative half of the cycle. Thus, it is
termed as full wave rectifier.

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 Half Wave Rectifier

Half Wave Rectifier circuit consists of a single diode and a step-down transformer, the high
voltage AC will be converted into low voltage AC with the help of step-down transformer.
After this, a diode connected in the circuit will be forward biased for positive half of AC cycle
and will be reversed biased during negative half.

When the diode is forward biased, it acts as a short circuit, while when it is reversed
biased it acts as an open circuit. This is because of the connection architecture of the circuit.
The P-terminal of the diode is connected with the secondary winding of transformer and N-
terminal of the diode is connected with the load resistor.

Thus, the diode conducts during the positive half of AC cycle. While it will not conduct
during the negative half of AC cycle. Thus, the voltage drop across the load resistor will
appear only for the positive half of AC. During negative half of AC cycle, we will get zero DC
voltage.

Full Wave Rectifier

Full Wave Rectifier consists of two diodes and one step down transformer which is
centre tapped. The P-terminal of the diodes is connected to the secondary winding of the
transformer. The N-terminals of both the diodes are connected to the centre tapping point of
the secondary winding, and they are also connected to load terminal.

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 When positive half of AC cycle passes through transformer primary winding, then due
to mutual induction the top of the secondary winding becomes positive while the bottom of
the secondary winding becomes negative.

The
P-

terminal of diode D1 is connected to the positive voltage which makes the diode to operate
in forward biased region. At the same time diode D2 becomes reverse biased, due to the
negative voltage at the bottom of the secondary winding.

Thus, for the positive half cycle of AC, only diode D1 conducts, and diode D2 does not
conduct. Thus, when the negative half cycle of AC passes through the primary winding of
transformer then due to mutual induction the top of the secondary winding of transformer
becomes negative and bottom of the secondary windings become positive.

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 VI. CONCLUSION
The rectifier is a core aspect of the various electronic circuits. This is due to the fact
that most electronic circuits run on low voltage DC and that it is economical to supply AC
electricity. We therefore need a system that can convert AC to DC. The rectifier is a system
that converts AC voltage to DC voltage.

The pulsating DC voltage consists of AC ripples with DC voltage. Thus, it is called

Pulsating DC voltage. The half wave rectifier converts half cycle of AC into pulsating DC
while full wave converts full cycle into pulsating DC.

Our selection for half-wave and full-wave rectifier should be based on the
requirements. If we need a low-cost system and you can compromise performance, then use
half-wave. But if you are working on a particular circuit design that involves a highly efficient
conversion of AC to DC, then use full wave, keeping in mind its circuit complexity and high
cost.

Regarding on the waveforms of rectifiers, the waveform of half wave rectifier, when
the input signal is positive, the diode is forward biased and conducts current. When the input
signal is negative the diode is reverse biased and does not conduct current. Hence the
output waveform V(out) is obtained. This is called “half rectified sine wave”. On the other
hand, waveform full wave rectifiers, during the positive half cycle of the input signal, the
diode D1 is forward biased and the diode D2 is reversed biased. Hence the current flows
through D1 and R. During the negative half cycle of the input signal, the diode D1 is reverse
biased and the diode D2 is reversed biased. Hence, the current flows through D2 and R.

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 VII. REFENCES

HALFWAVE AND FULLWAVE RECTIFIERS. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://ee.cet.ac.in/downloads/Notes/ECLab/01-Rectifiers.pdf

What is a Rectifier? A rectifier is a device that converts an oscillating two-directional

alternating current (AC) into a single-directional direct current (DC). Rectifiers can
take a wide variety of physical forms. (2019, May 29). What is a Rectifier? Types of
Rectifiers in Electronics. Retrieved from https://www.arrow.com/en/research-and-
events/articles/how-rectifiers-work-types-of-rectifiers-and-their-uses

Prasad, A. (1970, January 01). Experiment 4: Study of Half wave and Full wave rectifier.
Retrieved from http://technlab.blogspot.com/2016/04/experiment-4-study-of-half-
wave-and.html

Says, R., Rachel, Says, T. A., Ahmad, T., Says, S., & Sophie. (2018, September 14). Difference
between Half Wave and Full Wave Rectifier (with Comparison Chart). Retrieved from
https://electronicscoach.com/difference-between-half-wave-and-full-wave-
rectifier.html

Viva. (2020, January 08). 10 Difference Between Half Wave And Full Wave Rectifier. Retrieved
from https://vivadifferences.com/10-difference-between-half-wave-and-full-wave-
rectifier/

Unknown. (2017, August 29). "To Observe Waveform of full wave rectification". Retrieved
from https://labphysics360.blogspot.com/2017/08/to-observe-waveform-of-
fullwave.html

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