@D tutorialspoint age of Difference Between Half Wave and Full Wave Rectifier Differences Digital Electronics Electronics & Electrical A rectifier is an electronic circuit that converts the alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC), The process of conversion of alternating current into direct current is known as rectification, The rectifier consists of semiconductor diodes to perform the rectification Depending upon the type of conversion of AC into DG, i.e., half cycle of AC into DC or full cycle of AC into DC, the rectifiers are classified into two categories viz. = Half Wave Rectifier = Full Wave Rectifier In this article, we will discuss about the differences between half-wave rectifier and full- wave rectifier, Also, we will briefly discuss about the half-wave rectifier and full wave rectifier so that the understanding of differences between them becomes easier. What is a Half Wave Rectifier? A half wave rectifier is the rectifier circuit which converts only half cycle of the alternating current into direct current. The circuit of a typical half-wave rectifier consists of a semiconductor diode, the circuit of half-wave rectifier and the output waveform are shown in Figure-1. Diode A } K AC Supply Input AC Output DC | Figure 1 - Half Wave Rectifier The alternating current is stepped-up or stepped-down to the desired voltage using a transformer and then the transformed AC is fed to the diode. The rectification process of the half wave rectifier can be understood as follows@D tutorialspoint aged 04 During positive half cycle of AC, the diode being forward biased acts as a short circuit and allows the electric current to pass through it. While, during the negative half cycle of AC, the diode gets reverse biased and acts as an open circuit and hence do not conduct. In this way, the electric supply (voltage) at the load terminals will appear only for the positive half cycle of AC. And, during the negative half cycle, there is no voltage across the load terminals. Thus, the alternating current is converted into direct current, which flows only in one direction, but only half cycle of AC. What is a Full Wave Rectifier? A full wave rectifier is the one which converts the complete cycle of alternating current into direct current. The full-wave rectifier circuit consists of a center-tapped type step- down transformer and two semiconductor diodes. The anode terminals of the diodes are connected to the secondary winding terminals of the transformer and the cathode terminals of the diodes are connected to a common point. The load resistor is connected between the common terminal and the center-tapping point of the transformer. Input AC Output DC Figure 2 - Full Wave Rectifier During the positive half cycle of AC, the diode D1 is forward biased and diode D2 is reverse biased. Hence, for the positive half cycle, the diode D1 conducts and current flows through the diode D1 and the load resistor RL. Now, during the negative half cycle of AC, the diode D1 is reverse biased and diode D2 is forward biased, thus only diode D2 conducts for the negative half cycle of AC and the current will flow through the diode D2 and the load resistor RL. The circuit of the full wave rectifier and the output voltage waveform are shown in Figure-2. In this way, a full wave rectifier converts the complete cycle of AC into DC. Based on circuit configuration, the full-wave rectifier is further classified into two types viz. center-tapped FWR and bridge type FWR. Difference between Half Wave Rectifier and Full Wave Rectifier The major differences between half-wave rectifier and full-wave rectifier are given in the following table