Electronic Circuits- I | Laboratory Report
Experiment Number: 03
Name of Experiment:
To Study and Verify the Full Wave Rectifier Circuit
1. Objective
The objectives of this experiment are:
1. To draw the waveshape of the electrical signal at the input and output points of the full
wave rectifier.
2. To trace and verify the given circuit of a bridge rectifier.
3. To understand how all four diodes in the bridge work together to produce a full wave
output.
4. To observe and compare the input AC waveform and the output rectified waveform on the
oscilloscope.
2. Required Apparatus / Equipment
5. Function Generator (Frequency: 1 kHz, Amplitude: 4V peak-to-peak)
6. Oscilloscope (CRO) — to observe and trace input/output waveforms
7. Breadboard
8. Diodes — 1N4007 (4 pieces)
9. Load Resistor — 1.1 kΩ
10.Connecting wires
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Electronic Circuits- I | Laboratory Report
3. Theory
3.1 What is Rectification?
Rectification is the process of converting an AC (alternating current) signal into a DC (direct
current) or unidirectional signal. The device used to do this is called a rectifier.
3.2 Types of Full Wave Rectifier
There are two types of full wave rectifier circuit. The first is called the Centre Tap Rectifier,
which uses two diodes and a centre-tapped transformer. The second is called the Bridge Rectifier,
which uses four diodes and does not need a centre-tapped transformer. In this experiment, we use
the bridge rectifier.
3.3 Bridge Rectifier — How It Works
A bridge rectifier has four diodes arranged in a bridge (diamond) shape — D1, D2, D3, and D4.
The AC input is connected across two opposite corners of the bridge, and the load resistor (RL) is
connected across the other two corners.
During the positive half cycle: Point A is positive, Point B is negative. Current flows through D1
→ Load Resistor → D3 → back to source. Diodes D2 and D4 are reverse biased and do not
conduct.
During the negative half cycle: Point B is positive, Point A is negative. Current flows through D2
→ Load Resistor → D4 → back to source. Diodes D1 and D3 are reverse biased and do not
conduct.
In both cases, current through the load resistor flows in the same direction. So the output is always
positive — a pulsating DC at twice the frequency of the input AC. Because both half cycles are
used, the output has less gap (less ripple) compared to a half wave rectifier.
3.4 Key Formulas
Parameter Formula Value
Peak Output Voltage Vm(out) = Vm(in) − 1.4 V Vm − two diode drops
Average DC Output Vdc = 2Vm / π ≈ 0.636 × Vm ~0.636 Vm
RMS Output Voltage Vrms = Vm / √2 ≈ 0.707 × Vm ~0.707 Vm
Ripple Factor (γ) γ = 0.48 (theoretical) 48%
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Electronic Circuits- I | Laboratory Report
Rectifier Efficiency (η) η ≈ 81.2% (theoretical max) ~81%
Doubles the input
Output Frequency fout = 2 × fin
frequency
Compared to the half wave rectifier, the full wave bridge rectifier has a much lower ripple factor
(0.48 vs 1.21) and almost double the efficiency. The output frequency is also doubled, which
makes filtering easier.
4. Circuit Diagrams
Centre-Tapped Full Wave Rectifier
Figure - 4.1 Centre-tapped Full Wave Rectifier
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Working of Centre-Tapped Full Wave Rectifier
Figure - 4.2 Working of Centre-tapped Full Wave Rectifier
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Bridge Rectifier Full Wave Rectifier
Figure - 4.3 Bridge Rectifier Full Wave Rectifier
Working of Bridge Rectifier Full Wave Rectifier
Input Waveform
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Electronic Circuits- I | Laboratory Report
Output Waveform
5. Working Procedure
11.Arrange the four diodes (D1, D2, D3, D4) on the breadboard in a bridge configuration as
shown in the experimental circuit diagram.
12.Connect the load resistor (1.1 kΩ) across the DC output terminals of the bridge (between
the top and bottom nodes of the bridge).
13.Connect the function generator across the AC input terminals (left and right nodes of the
bridge). Set frequency to 1 kHz and amplitude to 4V peak-to-peak.
14.Connect Channel 1 of the oscilloscope across the function generator output (input signal)
and Channel 2 across the load resistor (output signal).
15.Switch on the function generator. Adjust the oscilloscope settings to: 2V/div (voltage) and
0.5 ms/div (time) to get a clear waveform.
16.Trace the output waveform as seen on the oscilloscope onto graph paper. Note that the
output should show continuous positive pulses at twice the input frequency.
17.Record the peak output voltage from the oscilloscope and compare it with the theoretical
value.
6. Observation Table
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Electronic Circuits- I | Laboratory Report
6.1 Function Generator Specifications Used
Parameter Value
Frequency (fin) 1 kHz
Amplitude (Vp-p input) 4 V (peak-to-peak)
Peak Input Voltage (Vm,in) 2 V (= Vp-p / 2)
Load Resistor (RL) 1.1 kΩ
Table 6.1 — Input and Output Measurements for Full Wave Bridge Rectifier
Notes: (1) All diodes are 1N4007 silicon; each drops ~0.7V → two in series drop 1.4V. (2) Output
frequency is always double the input frequency (fout = 2 × 1 kHz = 2 kHz). (3) Oscilloscope
settings: 2V/div, 0.5 ms/div.
7.4 Diode Conduction Summary
Conducting
Half Cycle Blocked Diodes Current Path
Diodes
Positive (+) D1, D3 D2, D4 A → D1 → RL → D3 → B
Negative (−) D2, D4 D1, D3 B → D2 → RL → D4 → A
In both half cycles, the current through RL flows in the same direction — so the output is always
positive. This is what makes a full wave rectifier more efficient than a half wave rectifier.
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Electronic Circuits- I | Laboratory Report
8. Result
The full wave bridge rectifier circuit was successfully constructed and verified. The key findings
are:
9. Discussion
From this experiment, we can clearly see that the full wave bridge rectifier is more efficient than
the half wave rectifier. Because it uses all four diodes in pairs — alternating between the two pairs
each half cycle — no part of the AC input is wasted. The output is a continuous train of positive
pulses rather than isolated humps with gaps.
The output frequency being double the input frequency means the ripple is easier to filter in
practical power supply circuits. A simple capacitor added across the load would smooth out the
output significantly.
One important observation is that the amplitude of the output is slightly lower than the input peak
by about 1.4V (two diode drops). In our experiment, using germanium diodes instead of silicon
would reduce this drop to about 0.4V (2 × 0.2V), giving a slightly higher output — as mentioned in
the lab notes.
Overall, the experiment was completed successfully. The waveforms traced from the oscilloscope
matched the expected theoretical waveforms, and the output voltages were close to the calculated
values. The full wave bridge rectifier is widely used in real-world power supply circuits because of
its high efficiency and lower ripple.
— End of Experiment Report —
Department of Computer Science and Engineering | Electronic Circuits- I
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