TECH 150 LAB#2

THE DIODE AS A RECTIFIER

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WHAT IT’S ABOUT

One of the most important applications of the diode is in the conversion of

AC to DC, a process called RECTIFICATION . Electronic circuits require a
DC source, usually a low voltage from about 3V to 50V, although a few
require higher voltages. The “half wave” rectifier discussed briefly in class
and seen in lab #1 is rarely used. We will examine the
“full wave” rectifier in this lab.

WHAT TO DO

(1)
The bridge rectifier is the most commonly used circuit. Commercially the 4
diode array is available as a single package unit. You will use 4 discrete
diodes from your lab kit. Set up the circuit of figure 1.

1N4004 DIODES

The transformer
used here is 12.6V
center tapped. You
will use only one
half of the
secondary as
shown (6.3V)

FIGURE 1:
FULL WAVE BRIDGE RECTIFIER

FOR ALL MEASUREMENTS CONNECT ONE SCOPE CHANNEL ONLY. IF BOTH

CHANNELS ARE CONNECTED YOU WILL BLOW ONE DIODE!
(2)

1
Connect scope channel 1 across the transformer secondary (Vsec).
Measure it accurately and sketch the waveform showing the ± peak
voltages and the frequency. Set the scope on DC and put 0V at center
screen.

Vsec 0V 

(3)
Measure the secondary voltage of the transformer using an AC VM.

Vs (rms)
=________V

(4)
Calculate the rms secondary voltage from your measured peak to peak
value in (2)

{ rms = 0.707peak} Calculated Vs (rms) = ______V

(5)
Move the scope lead to Vout and accurately measure the peak voltage
and sketch the waveform. (Set 0V at bottom screen)
The scope input must be set
The DC input

Vout

0V

6)
Calculate the average voltage (the DC value) of Vout:

Voutpeak
Average Vout (VoutDC ) = 2 x  =__________V
π
Measure Vout using a DC VM.

2
 VoutDC = _________V

A dc meter always reads the average value of a

waveform

(7)
Connect a 10µ f capacitor across RL in the circuit of
figure 1 and be certain that the capacitor is correctly
connected.

(8)
Set the scope 0V reference level at bottom screen and display Vout.
Carefully sketch the waveform showing maximum and minimum voltage
levels, the peak to peak voltage, and the frequency. (the time varying
portion of the waveform is called the RIPPLE voltage and represents the
amount of ac “left over” in the DC Vout)

Vout

0V

(9)
Fill in the following:
RIPPLE PP = ______________V

AVERAGE Vout = 0.5( Voutmax + Voutmin ) = ______________V

MEASURED BY DC DVM Vout = ______________V

RIPPLE FREQUENCY fR = ___________Hz

3
(10)
The 10µ f capacitor is too small for normal use but it clearly shows the
ripple waveform.
Add a 100µf capacitor across the 10µf capacitor. This time the ripple
voltage will probably be too small to measure when you have the scope
set to measure DC. Measure Vout using a DVM.

Vout = __________VDC

Set the scope to AC input and increase the vertical sensitivity to give a
large display of the ripple portion of Vout. Sketch the waveform showing
the peak to peak voltage.

RIPPLE
VOLTAGE

__________________________________________________________
QUESTIONS:
(1) A transformer is rated at 120V/46V. What peak to peak voltage would

be displayed on a scope?

(2) A scope measures a voltage as 42.4Vpp, what would an AC meter

read ?

(3) If one diode went open in the bridge:

The ripple would (increase….decrease….not change)?

The DC output would (drop slightly….stay the same)?

(4) The % ripple is calculated as pp ripple X 100%

VDC

Determine the % ripple for both capacitors used in the experiment.

(5) If ripple is < 10% we say that the DC output is, to a reasonable
approximation, equal to the peak output of the rectifier.
Based on your results is this reasonable?

D FULLER 12/09