The A-C to be rectified is connected to the primary P1P2 of a step down transformer.

S1S2 are the secondary coil of the

transformer, which are connected to diode and load resistance R as shown. The output is taken across the resistance
R. During the positive half cycle on account of induction, S1 is +ve and S2 is -ve. It forward biases the junction diode
and hence a current flows in direction shown. We therefore get output across load resistance. During the negative half
cycle S1 is negative and S2 is positive. The pn junction is reverse biased. It offers high resistance and hence there is no
flow of current due to majority charge carriers and thus there is no output across load. In the output only one half of the
wave is present and the other half is missing.

The amount of DC voltage across the output of half wave rectifier is given by

It is also called as average voltage, it is less than V m always since out put of half wave is not a pure DC it is pulsating
DC. Therefore the component of ripple is calculated by ripple factors it is denoted by gamma.

i.e., 1.21 percent of ripple is present at the out put when compared at input that means unwanted signal is still increased
by 21 percent. Therefore half wave rectifier is poor rectifier.
A Full wave rectifier is a circuit arrangement which makes use of both half cycles of input alternating
current (AC) and convert them to direct current (DC). In our tutorial on Half wave rectifiers, we
have seen that a half wave rectifier makes use of only one half cycle of the input alternating current.
Thus a full wave rectifier is much more efficient (double+) than a half wave rectifier. This process of
converting both half cycles of the input supply (alternating current) to direct current (DC) is termed
full wave rectification.
Full wave rectifier can be constructed in 2 ways. The first method makes use of a center tapped
transformer and 2 diodes. This arrangement is known as Center Tapped Full Wave Rectifier. The
second method uses a normal transformer with 4 diodes arranged as a bridge. This arrangement is
known as a Bridge Rectifier.
Full Wave Rectifier Theory
To understand full wave bridge rectifier theory perfectly, you need to learn half wave rectifier first.
In the tutorial of half wave rectifier we have clearly explained the basic working of a rectifier. In
addition we have also explained the theory behind a pn junction and the characteristics of a
pn junction diode.
Full Wave Rectifier Working & Operation
The working & operation of a full wave bridge rectifier is pretty simple. The circuit diagrams and wave
forms we have given below will help you understand the operation of a bridge rectifier perfectly. In
the circuit diagram, 4 diodes are arranged in the form of a bridge. The transformer secondary is
connected to two diametrically opposite points of the bridge at points A & C. The load resistance RL is
connected to bridge through points B and D.
 Full Wave Bridge Rectifier – Circuit Diagram with Input and Output Wave Forms

REGULATED POWER SUPPLY

Regulated power supply is an electronic circuit that is designed to provide a constant dc voltage of
predetermined value across load terminals irrespective of ac mains fluctuations or load variations.

Regulated Power Supply – Block Diagram

A regulated power supply essentially consists of an ordinary power supply and a voltage regulating
device, as illustrated in the figure. The output from an ordinary power supply is fed to the voltage
regulating device that provides the final output. The output voltage remains constant irrespective of
variations in the ac input voltage or variations in output (or load) current.
Figure given below shows the complete circuit of a regulated power supply with a transistor series
regulator as a regulating device. The ac voltage, typically 230 V rms is connected to a transformer which
transforms that ac voltage to the level for the desired dc output. A bridge rectifier then provides a full-
wave rectified voltage that is initially filtered by a ∏ (or C-L-C) filter to produce a dc voltage. The
resulting dc voltage usually has some ripple or ac voltage variation. A regulating circuit use this dc
input to provide a dc voltage that not only has much less ripple voltage but also remains constant even
if the input dc voltage varies somewhat or the load connected to the output dc voltage changes. The
regulated dc supply is available across a voltage divider.
 Regulated Power Supply – Diagram

Often more than one dc voltage is required for the operation of electronic circuits. A single power
supply can provide as many as voltages as are required by using a voltage (or potential) divider, as
illustrated in the figure. As illustrated in the figure, a potential divider is a single tapped resistor
connected across the output terminals of the supply.

Filter Circuit – Block Diagram

We have learnt in rectifier circuits about converting a sinusoidal ac voltage into its corresponding
pulsating dc. Apart from the dc component, this pulsating dc voltage will have unwanted ac
components like the components of its supply frequency along with its harmonics (together called
ripples). These ripples will be the highest for a single-phase half wave rectifier and will reduce
further for a single-phase full wave rectifier. The ripples will be minimum for 3-phase rectifier
circuits. Such supply is not useful for driving complex electronic circuits. For most supply purposes
constant dc voltage is required than the pulsating output of the rectifier. For most applications the
supply from a rectifier will make the operation of the circuit poor. If the rectifier output is smoothened
and steady and then passed on as the supply voltage, then the overall operation of the circuit becomes
better. Thus, the output of the rectifier has to be passed though a filter circuit to filter the ac
components.
The filter is a device that allows passing the dc component of the load and blocks the ac component of
the rectifier output. Thus the output of the filter circuit will be a steady dc voltage.
The filter circuit can be constructed by the combination of components like capacitors, resistors, and
inductors. Inductor is used for its property that it allows only dc components to pass and blocks ac
signals. Capacitor is used so as to block the dc and allows ac to pass. All the combinations and their
working are explained in detail below.

The tapped resistor may consist of two or three resistors connected in series across the
supply. In fact, bleeder resis The Full Wave Bridge Rectifier
Another type of circuit that produces the same output waveform as the full wave rectifier circuit above, is that of the Full
Wave Bridge Rectifier. This type of single phase rectifier uses four individual rectifying diodes connected in a closed
loop “bridge” configuration to produce the desired output. The main advantage of this bridge circuit is that it does not
require a special centre tapped transformer, thereby reducing its size and cost. The single secondary winding is
connected to one side of the diode bridge network and the load to the other side as shown below.

The Diode Bridge Rectifier

The four diodes labelled D1 to D4 are arranged in “series pairs” with only two diodes conducting current during each half
cycle. During the positive half cycle of the supply, diodes D1 and D2conduct in series while diodes D3 and D4 are
reverse biased and the current flows through the load as shown below.

tor may also be employed as a potential divider.

V