DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : P. Purnasekhara Rao
Designation : Senior Lec /ECE
Branch : ECE
Institute : GPW ,Nellore
Year/ Semister : III Sem
Sub : Electronic Circuite -I
Sub.Code : EC-302,
Major Topic : Power Supplies
Sub-Topic : Full Wave Bridge Rectifier
Duration : 50 Min
Teaching Aids : PPT slides, Scanned Diagrams

EC 302.6 1
Upon completion of this topic the student will
be able to know

• What is a Bridge Rectifier?

• Working of Bridge Rectifier.

• Advantages & Disadvantages.

• Comparison with centre tapped FWR.

EC 302.6 2
What is Bridge Rectifier ?

Bridge Rectifier is

• A full wave rectifier constructed in the

form of a bridge .

EC 302.6 3
What is the need for a bridge rectifier ?

• No centre tapped transformer is required.

• Smaller in size

• Low Cost
• Low PIV
• Transformer is optional.

EC 302.6 4
Circuit diagram of Bridge rectifier

D3 D1

D2 D4

Fig 1. Bridge rectifier

EC 302.6 5
Working of bridge rectifier
During positive half cycle

Fig.2

EC 302.6 6
Working of bridge rectifier (Contd)
• The voltages at points A and B on the transformer
are changing in opposite directions.
• When A is increasing in a positive direction, B is
increasing negatively.
• During the first half cycle, A is positive and B is
negative.
• D1 has positive on its anode, D2 has negative on
its cathode. Both are forward biased. (fig. 2)

EC 302.6 7
Working of bridge rectifier (Contd)

• Current flows around

the circuit formed by
these diodes, the load and
the transformer winding.

• The current flowing up

through the load produces
a pulse of voltage across
the load as shown in the
waveform.
Fig. 3
EC 302.6 8
Output waveform when D1 and D2 are in
conduction

Fig.4
EC 302.6 9
During negative half cycle

Fig. 5

EC 302.6 10
• During the next half cycle, A is negative
and B is positive.
• D4 has positive on its anode, D3 has negative
on its cathode. Both are forward biased.

• Current flows around the circuit as shown in the

diagram.

EC 302.6 11
Output waveform when D3 and D4 are in conduction

EC 302.6 12
Input and output wave forms of Bridge FWR

Fig. 6
EC 302.6 13
• In both cases the current flows in the same
direction through the load and produce another

• pulse of voltage.
Since the full cycle is used this circuit is called
a FULL-WAVE rectifier.

• Since there are two pulses for each cycle of

input, there are 100 pulses per second out.

EC 302.6 14
Advantages

• No centre tap is required

• PIV is one half that of centre tap FWR

• OUTPUT is double to that of centre tap FWR

EC 302.6 15
Disadvantages

• Four diodes are required

• Rectification efficiency is less due to two diodes

are in conduction at a time at lower voltages

• Output is double to that of centre tap FWR

EC 302.6 16
Comparison with centre tapped F.W.R

Centre tapped FWR Bridge FWR

• No. of diodes are two
• PIV is 2Vm
• Bigger secondary of
transformer is required
• Preferred for low voltage
and high current circuits
• No. of diodes are four
• PIV is Vm
• Secondary of transformer
requires half windings for
the same voltage
• Preferred for low voltage
and high current circuits

EC 302.6 17
Summary

2. Bridge rectifier is a full wave rectifier which uses four

diodes in the form of bridge.

4. Two diodes will be in conduction and remaining two in off

condition for every half cycle.

6. As centre tapped transformer is avoided the size and cost

can be reduced.

8. Used in high voltage and low current circuits.

EC 302.6 18
Quiz
1. The PIV of bridge rectifier is
a) 2Vs

b) Vs

c)4Vs

d) none

EC 302.6 19
1. No. of diodes required in Bridge rectifier

a) 4

b) 1

c) 2

d) 8

EC 302.6 20
3. The no. of diodes in conduction per half cycle input
voltage

a) 1

b) 2

c) 4

d) a or b

EC 302.6 21
Frequently asked questions

1. What is Bridge rectifier? What is its significance?

3. Draw the circuit diagram of bridge rectifier?

5. Explain the working of bridge rectifier with waveforms ?

7. List the advantages and disadvantages of bridge rectifier?

5. Compare centre tapped and bridge full wave rectifiers?

EC 302.6 22
Thank you

EC 302.6 23