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When selecting the electronic components for the bridge rectifier, it is necessary to ensure that they can accommodate the peak current levels. Period over which power supply capacitor charges In terms of the bridge rectifier and its diodes, the inclusion of the capacitor means that the current taken through the diodes will have significant peaks as the capacitor charges up. By smoothing the waveform, it is possible to run electronic circuits from it. Note on Power Supply Capacitor Smoothing:Ĭapacitors are used within many power supply applications for both linear voltage regulators and switch mode power supplies to smooth the rectified waveform which would otherwise vary between the peak waveform voltage and zero. This allows other circuits like the linear voltage regulators and switch mode power supplies to operate correctly. In this way they provide a more constant voltage than the direct output from the bridge rectifier. These electronic components accept charge during the high voltage parts of the waveform and then give out charge to the load as the voltage falls. In most power supply applications, whether for linear voltage regulators, or for switch ode power supply applications, the output from a bridge rectifier will be connected to a smoothing capacitor as part of the load. To see how the bridge diode full wave rectifier operates it is useful to see the current flow over a compete cycle of the incoming waveform.įull wave bridge rectifier showing current flow This can be particularly important when designing linear power supplies or other electronic devices. This doubles the number of turns and increases the cost of the transformer. Wound electronic components are expensive and including a centre tap means that two identical windings, each providing the full voltage are needed to provide the full wave rectification. This means that a single winding is used for both halves of the cycle. The bridge rectifier provides full wave rectification and has the advantage over the full wave rectifier using two diodes that no centre tap is required in the transformer. Full wave rectifier using a bridge rectifier These can be individual diodes, or it is also easy to obtain bridge rectifiers as a single electronic component. This consists of a bridge circuit which includes four diodes. Typical PCB mount bridge rectifier Bridge rectifier circuitsĪ diagram of the basic bridge rectifier circuit has a bridge rectifier block at the centre. In view of its performance and capabilities, the full wave bridge rectifier is used in many linear power supplies, switch mode power supplies and other electronic circuits where rectification is needed. Using four diodes the bridge rectifier the circuit has a distinctive format with the circuit diagram based on a square with one diode on each leg.
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The bridge rectifier is an electronic component that is widely used to provide full wave rectification and it is possibly the most widely used circuit for this application. Bridge Rectifier Circuit The bridge rectifier consisting of four diodes enables full wave rectification without the need for a centre tapped transformer.ĭiode rectifier circuits Half wave rectifier Full wave rectifier Two diode full wave rectifier Full wave bridge rectifier Synchronous rectifier
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