Bridge Rectifier
The full-wave rectifier circuit requires a center-tapped transformer where only one half of the total ac voltage of the transformer secondary winding is utilized to convert into DC output. We now consider a different configuration of the full-wave rectifier circuit, called the bridge rectifier, where the entire AC voltage of the transformer secondary is used to convert into DC voltage.
Figure (a) shows a bridge rectifier circuit. There are four diodes, D1, D2, D3, and D4, which form the four arms of the bridge. AC from the transformer secondary is fed to two corners, and the load resistance RL is connected to the other two corners. The waveforms for the input and output voltages are shown in figure (b).
During the positive half-cycle of the input, point A is positive, diodes D1 and D3 are forward biased, and diodes D2 and D4 are reverse biased. Then, the current flows through diode D1, the load RL and through diode D3 back to the negative polarity of the transformer secondary. During the negative half cycle of input, point ‘B’ is more positive than point ‘A’; thus, diodes D2 and D4 are forward biased, and diodes D1 and D3 are reverse biased. Then the direction of current flow will be through diode D2, load RL, and diode D4. In both cases the current flowing through resistor RL is in the same direction; thus, it is unidirectional current, and we obtain full-wave rectification.
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