Bridge Rectifier Operation Flashcards
What is the purpose of the rectifier section in a power supply?
The rectifier section of a power supply converts AC to DC power.
In this bridge rectifier circuit, what is the purpose of D1-D4?
What is RL?
D1 through D4 perform the full-wave rectification.
RL is a load resistor representing the load for the circuit.
If a positive voltage is at the junction of D1 and D2, what is the path of the current?
The junction of D1 and D2 will forward bias D2.
D1 is reverse-biased and acts as an open.
The negative potential at the junction of D3 and D4 will forward bias D3 and reverse bias D4.
Like D1, D4 is reverse-biased and acts as an open in the circuit.
Current flows from ground through the load and D2 to the positive source. Current flows through D3, completing the negative path to ground.
Because current is flowing up through RL, the output voltage is positive. It will remain positive during the entire positive alternation of the input signal.
If a positive voltage is at the junction of D3 and D4, what is the path of the current?
The negative potential at the junction of D1 and D2 forward biases D1 and reverse biases D2.
D2 is reverse-biased and acts as an open.
The positive potential at the junction of D3 and D4 reverse biases D3 and forward biases D4.
D3 is reverse-biased and acts as an open.
Current flows from ground through the load, through D4 to the positive source. Current flows from the negative source through D1 to ground, completing the circuit. The output voltage is positive because current is flowing up through RL.
If a positive voltage is at the junction of D1 and D2, what is the path of the current?
With a positive voltage at the junction of D1 and D2, diodes D1 and D4 are forward-biased. Current flows through D4 and the load to ground. From ground, current flows through D1, completing the path.
If a positive voltage is at the junction of D3 and D4, what is the path of the current?
When the junction of D1 and D2 is negative, diodes D2 and D3 are forward-biased. Current flows through D2 and the load to ground. From ground, current flows through D3 and back to the source, completing the circuit. The bridge output remains negative in relation to ground.
In this circuit, which two diodes are forward biased?
D2 and D3
In this circuit, which two diodes are forward biased?
D1 and D4
In this bridge circuit, when the junction of D1 and D2 is positive, which diodes are reverse biased?
D2 and D3
Why is a bridge rectifier output voltage higher than a full-wave rectifier?
The output voltage is taken across the full potential of the transformer.
The formula used to calculate the average DC output of a non-filtered bridge rectifier is _______.
Vavg = Vpeak x 0.636 Vavg = Vpeak x 0.318 Vavg = Vpp x 0.636 Vavg = Vpp x 0.318
Vavg = Vpeak x 0.636
In this bridge circuit, when the junction of D1 and D2 is negative, which diodes are forward biased?
D1 and D4
In this bridge circuit, when the junction of D1 and D2 is positive, which diodes are forward biased?
D2 and D3
The average DC output voltage for this rectifier circuit is _______.
–19 Vavg
–38 Vavg
+19 Vavg
+38 Vavg
–38 Vavg
The current path in this circuit is _______.
A, D2, RL, D3, B
B, D4, RL, D1, A
A, D1, RL, D4, B
B, D3, RL, D2, A
B, D4, RL, D1, A
The current path in this circuit is _______.
A, D2, RL, D3, B
B, D4, RL, D1, A
A, D1, RL, D4, B
B, D3, RL, D2, A
A, D1, RL, D4, B
The current path in this circuit is _______.
A, D2, RL, D3, B
B, D4, RL, D1, A
A, D1, RL, D4, B
B, D3, RL, D2, A
A, D2, RL, D3, B
