EXPERIMENT 5

DIODE APPLICATIONS

PART A: RECTIFIER CIRCUITS USING DIODE

1.0 ABSTRACT
The purpose of this experiment is:
1. To analyze the use of a diode as a rectifier.
2. To identify and differentiate various types of rectifier circuits.
3. To comprehend the function of a capacitor as a filter in a rectifier circuit.
The equipment used in this experiment are listed below:
Equipment and Components

Quantity

Oscilloscope

12-0-12 Transformer

Digital Multimeter

Diode: IN4002

Resistor: 1k

Capacitor: 100F

Connecting Wires

Clippers

Breadboard

Probes

THEORY
In this experiment, we found out that by arranging diodes and other circuit element such as
resistor, capacitor and the power source in a certain way, it is possible to convert or eliminate
the positive or negative phase of the sinusoidal alternating current (AC). Diode is a circuit
element that restricts the flow of electrical current in one direction. This allows the diode to
act as a rectifier in a circuit by converting AC to direct current (DC). There are three main
types of rectifier circuits:
i.
ii.
iii.

Half-wave rectifier circuit

Centre tap full-wave rectifier
Full-wave bridge rectifier circuit

2.0 Experiment Procedures

1. By using the components provided, a half-wave rectifier circuit was connected. The
schematic of the circuit is provided in Figure 5.1.

2. The clippers were connected to Channel 1 of the oscilloscope and across the 1k
resistor. The output waveform was observed and sketched. After obtaining the waveform, the
probes were connected to the multimeter and across the resistor to obtain the DC output
voltage. The DC output voltage was recorded.
3. A capacitor was connected in parallel to the resistor in the circuit. By using the
oscilloscope, the waveform was observed and sketched. By using the multimeter, the DC
output voltage was obtained and recorded.
4. The above procedures were repeated by connecting a centre tap full-wave rectifier and a
full-wave bridge rectifier as shown in Figure 5.2 and Figure 5.3 respectively.

3.1 Results

Type of rectifier

DC Output voltage

Ripple voltage

(without capacitor)

(with capacitor)

Half-wave rectifier

4.07 V

16.023 V

Centre tap full-wave

11.19 V

16.069 V

10.57 V

16.351 V

rectifier
Full-wave bridge rectifier

4.0 Discussions

For the first circuit, half-wave rectifier, the output waveform is in the form of altered
sinusoidal wave where the negative phase of the wave is canceled out and is equal to 0 as
shown in the results and Appendix A. By analyzing the schematic of the circuit (Figure 5.1),
we can see that the negative phase of the wave is canceled out because during the negative
half cycle of the power source, the diode prevents the flow of electrical current. When a
capacitor is added, the altered sinusoidal wave smoothens out as if it is a direct current. This
is because the capacitor stores energy during the positive half cycle of the power supply and
release the stored energy when the current flow is blocked.
For the second circuit, center tap full-wave rectifier, the negative phase of the output
waveform is converted to positive. In each half cycle of the power source, one of the diode
prevents the current from flowing while the other diode allows current to flow. During the
positive half cycle of the source, only the top half of the transformers secondary winding
carries current during this half cycle whereas during the negative half of the cycle, only the
bottom half of the transformers secondary winding carries current. When a capacitor is
added, the waveform smoothens out in the same way as in the first circuit.
For the third circuit, full-wave bridge rectifier which can be seen as in Appendix B, the
output waveform has the same shape as the second circuit. Hence, both circuits are fullwave rectifier. In the full-wave bridge rectifier, the electron flowing through the load is always
the same regardless of polarity due to how the diodes are set up. One advantage of fullwave bridge rectifier over center tap full-wave rectifier is that it eliminates the need for a
center tap in the transformers secondary winding but it has a disadvantage of having two
voltage drops instead of one which can be problematic with low voltage power supply. When
a capacitor is added, the wave smoothens out in the same way as in the first two circuit but
with a higher frequency implying that it is possible to turn AC into DC by using diodes and
capacitor.

5.0 Conclusion

From this experiment, we have learned that it is possible to use diode(s) to allow current to
flow in one direction only. It is also possible to create a rectifier which converts AC to DC by
using one or more diode combined with a capacitor. This is important because some of the
common household appliances such as video game systems, laptop and televisions require
DC supply instead of AC. Further research should be done to improve the design of fullwave rectifiers which can work in both low voltage power supplies and high voltage power
supplies.

6.0 References
1. Tony R. Kuphald (2009). Vol. III - Semiconductors. Lessons in Electric Circuits. Retrieved
December 18, 2015, from http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/semiconductors/chpt3/rectifier-circuit
2. Lander, Cyril W. (1993). 2. Rectifying Circuits. Power Electronics (3rd Ed.). London:
McGraw-Hill.
3. Dr. Zainal Salam (2002). AC to DC Conversion (Rectifier). Power Electronics and Drives
(Version 2). Retrieved from http://encon.fke.utm.my/notes/Rectifier-2002.pdf

Appendix A: Half-wave rectifier waveform

Appendix A1: Half-wave rectifier waveform with capacitor

Appendix B: Full-wave bridge rectifier on a breadboard