Half wave rectifier

OBJECTIVE
To study the half-wave rectifier.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

Base unit for the IPES system.

Power supply module PSU/EV.
Module holder structure MU/EV.
Individual Control Unit module SIS3/EV.
Experiment module MCM3/EV.
Multimeter.
Oscilloscope.

BASIC THEORY
The rectifier circuit converts the AC voltage furnished by the utilities company into
the DC voltage required to operate electronic equipment. Many common electrical
products use voltages provided by a rectifier. Without the rectifier to convert the AC
voltage to the DC voltage required to operate these electrical units, it would be
virtually impossible to have the conveniences that we enjoy today. A television
without a rectifier would require several extremely large batteries. These batteries
would have to be large because of the current that is required. In other words, a
television without the rectifier would be so large that it would occupy an entire
room. The rectifier is the heart of the electronic unit.

PRINCIPLE OF CIRCUIT DESIGN

The input block consists of a transformer, normally a power transformer that
receives the AC input signal from some power source. The transformer
transfers the electrical energy received to the rectifier section by
electromagnetic induction or mutual inductance. The transformer performs
the transfer of energy without any change in frequency, but it is able to
change the voltage and current from the input source to the voltage and
current required by the rectifier section. The phase relationship of the current
in the secondary of the transformer is dependent upon the phase of the
voltage in the primary winding and the direction of the winding in the
secondary. If the secondary windings are wound in the same direction as the
primary
windings, the phase between the input signal and the output signal will be
the same. If the secondary windings are wound in the opposite direction of
the primary windings, the phase between the input signal 26 and the output

signal will be 180 degrees out of phase. The schematic drawings of a

transformer indicate the phase relationship between the primary and
secondary with the use of dots. The dots on a schematic diagram indicate
which windings are in phase. Figure 2 illustrates this relationship.

The circuit shown in Fig. C4-4 consists of a step-down transformer (240 V to 6.3V)
and a half-wave rectifier. A rectifier is a device that changes an AC (alternating)
voltage (average voltage zero) to a DC voltage (average value non-zero). The
transformer secondary output is a sinusoidal signal of nominal amplitude 8.9V
(6.3Vrms) and frequency 50Hz. During the positive half cycles of operation, the
diode conducts so the output signal appears across the load resistor RL. During the
negative half cycles the diode does not conduct so the voltage across RL is zero and
a negative voltage drop appears across the diode. The voltage across RL is
therefore a succession of approximate half sinewaves. The circuit here is known as a
half-wave rectifier for reasons which should become clear.

Procedure
1- connect the circuit as shown above.
2. The transformer that will be used is on the bench. Connect the circuit shown in
Fig. C4-4 using a value of RL = 470 and the diode which is about 5 cm long and
black - ask your tutor if youre unsure which it is, or of its polarity. Using the DC
inputs to the oscilloscope, sketch the transformer secondary voltage and the
voltage across RL, labeling axes carefully.
3- Calculate the average DC voltage across RL (try integration). Obtain a voltmeter
from the service counter. Set it for DC and connect it across RL. Compare its reading
with the calculated average value. Why does the DC meter give a steady reading
even though the voltage measured is varying with time?
4. Sketch the voltage across the diode vs time (display this voltage on the
oscilloscope). Make sure you get the zero level right! A high oscilloscope sensitivity

will be necessary to observe the forward voltage drop. Comment on the shape of
the waveform when the diode is conducting and compare with the characteristic
curve in Fig. C4- 2(c).

1- Construct the circuit of Fig. 2.1 where V is the voltmeter. Note that the
resistor limits the
current to a safe value.
2- Switch on the oscilloscope and the sinusoidal supply.

3- With the oscilloscope D.C. coupled adjust the time-base and the Y amplifier
sensitivity
to obtain a steady trace of about 4cm vertical and 5ms/cm horizontal.
4- Measure and record time T and peak voltage Vpk:

5- Sketch the waveform and label it to show the periods when the diode is conducting
and those when it is not. Time T depends upon the frequency of your power supply.
6- Confirm this. Vpk should be very nearly equal to the peak voltage of the alternating
supply.

Questions
1. Why will Vpk not be exactly equal to the peak value of the supply?
2. How much is the difference between the measured and theoretical mean voltage?
V pk
(Hint: The mean value of a half-sinusoid can be shown by geometry to be : 2
.
But at every half-cycle the voltage is zero. The mean value of the waveform,
therefore is:

V pk
2 2 . Note the mean voltage indicated by the voltmeter, and compare

it with 0.35Vpk.)
3. The mean voltage you obtain is positive relative to zero. How could you obtain a
negative voltage?
(Hint: Verify your answer by experiment and sketch the waveform.)