DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : B.Venkateshwara Rao.
Designation : Lecturer in ECE.
Branch : ECE.
Institute : S.S.GPT,ZHB, Medak Dist.
Year/Semester : III Semester.
Subject : Electronics-I.
Subject Code : EE-305 Sem
Topic : power supply.
Duration : 1 Hr 40 Minutes.
Sub-Topic : Full wave Bridge Rectifier.
Teaching Aids : Diagrams.

EE305.30 TO 31 1
 Objectives :
Upon completion of this period the student will
be able to know

1. Full wave Bridge Rectifier

2. Its working

3. Efficiency, Ripple factor, PIV

EE305.30 TO 31 2
 Objectives :
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.

EE305.30 TO 31 3
What is Bridge Rectifier ?

Bridge Rectifier is

• A full wave rectifier constructed in the

form of a bridge .

EE305.30 TO 31 4
What is the need for a bridge rectifier ?

• No centre tapped transformer is required.

• Smaller in size

• Low Cost
• Low PIV
• Transformer is optional.

EE305.30 TO 31 5
Circuit diagram of Bridge rectifier

D3 D1

D2 D4

Fig 1. Bridge rectifier

EE305.30 TO 31 6
Working of bridge rectifier
During positive half cycle

Fig.2

EE305.30 TO 31 7
• 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)

EE305.30 TO 31 8
• 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
EE305.30 TO 31 9
 Output waveform when D1 and D2 are in
conduction

Fig.4
EE305.30 TO 31 10
During negative half cycle

Fig. 5

EE305.30 TO 31 11
• 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.

EE305.30 TO 31 12
Output waveform when D3 and D4 are in conduction

EE305.30 TO 31 13
Input and output wave forms of Bridge FWR

Fig. 6
EE305.30 TO 31 14
• 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.

EE305.30 TO 31 15
Advantages

• No centre tap is required

• PIV is one half that of centre tap FWR

• OUTPUT is double to that of centre tap FWR

EE305.30 TO 31 16
 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

EE305.30 TO 31 17
Comparison with centre tapped F.W.R
Centre tapped FWR Bridge FWR
• No. of diodes are two • No. of diodes are four
• PIV is 2Vm • PIV is Vm
• Center tapping is • Center tapping is not
necessary necessary
• Preferred for low • Preferred for low
voltage and high current voltage and high current
circuits circuits

EE305.30 TO 31 18
 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.

EE305.30 TO 31 19
 Quiz

1. The PIV of bridge rectifier is

a) 2Vm

b) Vm

c)4Vm

d) none

EE305.30 TO 31 20
1. No. of diodes required in Bridge rectifier

a) 4

b) 1

c) 2

d) 8

EE305.30 TO 31 21
3. The no. of diodes takes conduction per half cycle in
a bridge rectifier

a) 1

b) 2

c) 4

d) a or b

EE305.30 TO 31 22
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.

EE305.30 TO 31 23