Exp 3

Experiment 3: Performance Study of Regulated DC Power Supply
A. Aim:
To design a full-wave bridge rectifier

To use a capacitor to filter out ac components (output smoothing)
To use a Zener diode to reduce the effect of ripple and regulate the output voltage
B. Apparatus:
Step-down transformer
P-N Diode 1N4007
Capacitor (470 uF)
Variable resistor
Resistor (1 kΩ)
5.1 V Zener diode
Voltmeter (0-20V)
Bread Board
Connecting wires
C. Theory:
Rectifier:
A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC), which periodically
reverses direction, to direct current (DC), which flows in only one direction. The process is
known as rectification. Rectifiers have many uses, but are often found serving as components
of DC power supplies and high-voltage direct current power transmission systems. Because of
the alternating nature of the input AC sine wave, the process of rectification alone produces a
DC current that, though unidirectional, consists of pulses of current. Many applications of
rectifiers, such as power supplies for radio, television and computer equipment, require a steady
constant DC current (as would be produced by a battery). In these applications the output of
the rectifier is smoothed by an electronic filter (usually a capacitor) to produce a steady current.
Half-wave Rectification:
In half wave rectification, either the positive or negative half of the AC wave is passed, while
the other half is blocked. Because only one half of the input waveform reaches the output, mean
voltage is lower. Half-wave rectifiers produce far more ripple than full-wave rectifiers, and
much more filtering is needed to eliminate harmonics of the AC frequency from the output.
Fig. 1: Half-wave rectifier
Full-wave Rectification:
A full-wave rectifier converts the whole of the input waveform to one of constant polarity
(positive or negative) at its output. Full-wave rectification converts both polarities of the input
waveform to pulsating DC (direct current), and yields a higher average output voltage. Two
diodes and a center tapped transformer, or four diodes in a bridge configuration and any AC
source (including a transformer without center tap), are needed. Single semiconductor diodes,
double diodes with common cathode or common anode, and four-diode bridges, are
manufactured as single components.
Fig. 2: Full-wave rectifier using center tapped transformer
Fig. 3: Full-wave bridge rectifier
Filtering (Output Smoothing):

While half-wave and full-wave rectification can deliver unidirectional current, neither
produces a constant voltage. Producing steady DC from a rectified AC supply requires a
smoothing circuit or filter. In its simplest form this can be just a reservoir capacitor or
smoothing capacitor, placed at the DC output of the rectifier. There is still an AC ripple voltage
component at the power supply frequency for a half-wave rectifier, twice that for full- wave,
where the voltage is not completely smoothed.
Fig. 4: Output smoothing using RC filter

Output Regulation:
The purpose of a voltage regulator is to maintain a constant voltage across a load regardless of
variations in the applied input voltage and variations in the load current. A typical Zener diode
shunt regulator is shown in Fig. 5. The resistor is selected so that when the input voltage is at
VIN(min) and the load current is at IL(max), then the current through the Zener diode is at least Iz(min).
Then for all other combinations of input voltage and load current the Zener diode conducts the
excess current thus maintaining a constant voltage across the load. The Zener conducts the least
current when the load current is the highest and it conducts the most current when the load
current is the lowest.
Fig. 5: Output regulation using shunt Zener diode
D. Procedure:
RUN 1:
1. Connections are made as per the circuit diagram shown in Fig. 6.
2. Measure DC as well as AC voltage drops (VDC, Vrms) across the variable resistor (100
Ω - 1 kΩ).
3. Obtain the ripple factor using the measured voltage values and the formula given in
Table I.
Fig. 6: Implementing full wave bridge rectifier and measuring the ripple factor (RUN 1)
Table I:
Load Resistance (RL) VDC (V) Vrms (V) Ripple Factor =
Vrms/VDC
RUN 2:
1. Now, connect the filtering capacitor as shown in Fig. 7.
2. Once again measure VDC, Vrms values for different RL values (100 Ω - 1 kΩ).
3. Tabulate ripple factor values in Table II.
Fig. 7: Smoothing out the output ripple using capacitor and measuring the ripple
factor
Table II:
Vrms/VDC
RUN 3:
1. For regulation purpose, connections are made as shown in Fig. 8.
2. Vary the load resistor from 100 Ω to 10 kΩ and measure VDC, Vrms .
3. Tabulate ripple factor values in Table III and observe how the
output voltage is regulated by the shunt Zener diode.
Fig. 8: Output regulation using shunt Zener diode (RUN 3)

Table III:
Vrms/VDC
Results:
● A full-wave bridge rectifier is designed and its output is smoothed out

using a filtering capacitor.
● Then a Zener diode is used to regulate the output voltage.

Exp 3

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Experiment 3: Performance Study of Regulated DC Power Supply

To design a full-wave bridge rectifier

Fig. 1: Half-wave rectifier

Fig. 2: Full-wave rectifier using center tapped transformer

Fig. 3: Full-wave bridge rectifier

Filtering (Output Smoothing):

Fig. 4: Output smoothing using RC filter

Fig. 5: Output regulation using shunt Zener diode

Fig. 8: Output regulation using shunt Zener diode (RUN 3)

● A full-wave bridge rectifier is designed and its output is smoothed out

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