EECS 3400 Lab7

Experiment 7: Half-wave & Full-wave Bridge
Rectifier
Objective:
To investigate the operation of a half-wave and full-wave bridge rectifier. Also included are the
effects of loading and filter capacitance.
Components needed:
(1) Dual Channel Oscilloscope
(1) Function Generator
(1) Digital Multimeter
(1) Signal diode (1N914, 1N4148)
(4) Rectifying diodes (1N4002 series)
(1) 12.6 volt 1 amp center tapped transformer
(1) 1 k Ω resistor ¼ watt
(1) 20 Ω resistor 20 watt
(1) 10 k Ω resistor ¼ watt
(1) 1000 µF capacitor 25 volt
(1) 22 nF capacitor
(1) 470 nF capacitor
Schematic:
Figure 1 Figure 2
Figure 3
Developed by J. Fiore, edited by V. Borra 1

Procedure:
Simple Rectifier
1. Consider the circuit of Figure 1. For an input voltage significantly larger than .7 volts, the
diode will be forward biased for the positive half of the input sine wave. Therefore, all of the
input signal (less .7 volts) will appear across the load resistor, R. Conversely, during the
negative polarity of the input, the diode will be open, thus blocking any current and producing
no voltage across the load.
2. Build the circuit of Figure 1 using Vin = 10 volts peak at 1 kHz and R = 10 kΩ. Set the
oscilloscope inputs to DC coupled. Place one oscilloscope probe across the input generator and
a second probe across the load resistor. Record the peak amplitude of the output load waveform
in Table 1. Also, save an image of the scope trace showing both the input and output
waveforms.
3. Measure the load voltage with the DMM (DC volts) and record this in Table 1.
4. Reverse the diode and repeat steps 2 and 3.
5. Reverse the diode so that it is back to the original orientation. Reduce the input to 800 mV
peak and repeat step 2.
Filter Capacitor
6. The circuit of Figure 2 adds a filtering capacitor across the load. This should help to “fill
the gaps” created by the missing portions of the waveform. Build the circuit of Figure 2 using
Vin = 10 volts peak at 1 kHz, R = 10 kΩ and C = 22 nF. Making sure that the scope inputs are
DC coupled, place scope probes across the input and load, and capture the resulting image.
Record the peak value in Table 2.
7. Measure the load voltage with the DMM (DC volts) and record this in Table 2.
8. Replace C with the 470 nF capacitor and repeat steps 5 and 6.
Data:
Table 1:
Variation Vload peak DMM DCV
Original
Reversed Diode
800 mV Input X

Table 2:
Capacitor Vload peak DMM DCV
22 nF
470 nF
Full-Wave bridge rectifier Basic Operation
9. First, note that the circuit of Figure 3 is being powered directly from the AC line. Treat it
with appropriate caution. It is worth repeating that any circuit should be de-energized when
making any changes to it.
10. Consider the circuit of Figure 3 without the capacitor connected. For a positive polarity of
secondary voltage, the upper right and lower left diodes will be forward biased and allow
current to flow through the load from top to bottom. The other two diodes will be reverse biased.
For a negative secondary polarity, the opposite occurs. That is, the upper left and lower right
pair will be forward biased while the other two are reverse biased. This arrangement will also
cause load current to flow through the load from top to bottom, thus effectively flipping the
negative polarity portion of the wave.
11. Build the circuit of Figure 3 with Rload = 1 kΩ and C disconnected (open). This represents a
very lightly loaded case. Under light loads, the output of the secondary will often be a little
higher than the rated potential. Set the oscilloscope input to DC coupled. Measure and record
the voltage across the secondary and then across the load. Do not use two probes to do this
simultaneously as these two measurements do not share a common ground. Doing so will short
out a portion of the circuit. Record the results in Table 3 and capture an image of the load
voltage display.
12. Measure the load voltage with a DMM set to DC volts. Record this value in Table 3.
13. Replace the load with the 20 Ω resistor to simulate greater loading. Repeat steps 3 and 4.
14. Return the load resistor to the original 1 kΩ value and insert the 1000 µF capacitor.
Measure the load voltage with both the oscilloscope and DMM, recording the values in Table
4. Be sure to capture an image of the scope display.
15. Replace the load with the 20 Ω resistor to simulate greater loading. Measure the load
voltage with both the oscilloscope and DMM, recording the values in Table 4. Once again, be
sure to capture an image of the scope display.

Table 3
Load Vsecondary scope Vload scope Vload DMM
1 kΩ
20 Ω
Table 4
Load Vload scope Vload DMM
1 kΩ
20 Ω
Report:
Write a report that summarizes this experiment. Your report brief must include:
a) Cover sheet.
b) Objective - a short paragraph stating what the experiment is about.
c) Procedure - a description of the process of conducting the experiment. It should
not be a step-by-step account, but rather an overview of what was done.
d) Discussion - a complete discussion of the results of the experiment and the
principals involved. Include the outputs and also the screen captures as needed to
support the statements made in this section. Relegate extensive lists of raw data
and detailed computations to an appendix as appropriate.
e) Conclusion - a summary of what you have learned from the experiment.
f) Appendix - original raw data (initialed by the lab instructor) and details not placed
in the discussion section

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Experiment 7: Half-wave & Full-wave Bridge

Developed by J. Fiore, edited by V. Borra 1

Variation Vload peak DMM DCV

Developed by J. Fiore, edited by V. Borra 2

Capacitor Vload peak DMM DCV

Full-Wave bridge rectifier Basic Operation

Developed by J. Fiore, edited by V. Borra 3

Load Vsecondary scope Vload scope Vload DMM

Load Vload scope Vload DMM

Developed by J. Fiore, edited by V. Borra 4

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