ELECTRONICS LAB

REPORT
[EXPERIMENT NO:1]
Satyaki Kundu
15IP015

Date- 24/08/2015

 Aim1:- Study of diode as a half wave rectifier

Electronic parts required:

1) centre-tap transformer of input (220 v) to output (18-0-18 v)
2) One 1N4007 diode
3) Load resistance=RL=10 k
4) Capacitors=C=47 F
5) Two DT-830D multimeters

Operation:
The basic circuit of a half wave rectifier is shown.Input a.c from mains supply is applied to the
rectifier via a transformer which can step up or step down the input a.c voltage. The peak
value of the transformer secondary voltage is usually much larger than the cut in voltage of
the diode,so we can neglect the cut in voltage.
During the positive half cycle of the transformer secondary voltage the terminal A becomes
positive with respect to terminal B.Then the diode D1 is forward biased and current flows
through it.During the next cycle the voltage at terminal A becomes less than that at

terminal B.then the diode is reverse biased and allows no current to pass through it.So the
output for this cycle of the input voltage remains zero.So we get a output current for only
one half of the input signal,for the other half there is no output current.So the output
current (as shown) becomes unidirectional.So we obtain a d.c output from an a.c input.

Data:
Sl no.

Vin
(ac
volts)

1
2
3

17.5
18.20
17.5

Without filter
Voutput,d.c
7.7
7.8
7.8

Voutput,a.c
9.7
9.8
9.7

C
(F)

1.273 47
1.256
1.256

With filter
Voutput,d.c
23.9
23.9
23.8

Voutput,a.c
0.1
0.2
0.3

Observation:
Although the input is purely a.c,we do obtain a d.c output as well as an a.c output. So the
rectifier circuit has converted a part of the input a.c signal into d.c signal. But in this case
the ripple factor is very large,hence our goal of obtaining perfect smooth d.c is not
fulfilled. However when a capacitor filter is used as shown,the ripple factor is much less in
this way we obtain smooth d.c output via a half wave rectifier,the capacitor provides a
passage for the a.c part of the signal.

Conclusion:
In the above circuit we use a diode and a capacitor to obtain smooth d.c output from input
a.c signal.We get output during only one cycle of the input signal,hence the circuit is named
half wave rectifier circuit.

Error:
Theoretical value of ripple factor=1.21
Experipental value of the ripple factor=1.262(without filter)
So the percentage error={(1.262-1.21)/1.21}x100 = 4.298%

 Aim2: study of diode as a full wave rectifier

Electronic parts required:

1) centre-tap transformer of input (220 v) to output (18-0-18 v)
2) Two 1N4007 diode
3) Load resistance=RL=10 k
4) Capacitors=C=47 F
5) Two DT-830D multimeters

Operation:
A smoother output waveform and greater efficiency of rectification can be obtained
by a full-wave rectifier which uses two identical diodes as shown in figure.Input from
a.c mains is applied to the rectifier via a transformer with a centre tap on the
secondary so that the a.c inputs to the two diodes are equal in magnitude but 180
out of phase.During each half cycle of the a.c input signal only one diode
conducts.However the load current is in the same direction for both half cycles.

 Data:
Sl no. Vin
(ac
volts)

1
2
3

34.80
35.50
36.00

Without filter
Voutput,d.c
15.50
15.47
15.70

Voutput,a.c
7.00
7.55
7.52

C
(F)

0.452 47
0.488
0.479

With filter
Voutput,d.c
24.02
24.21
24.00

Voutput,a.c
-3
.1x10
-3
.1x10
-3
.1x10

-6
4.2x10
-6
4.2x10
-6
4.2x10

Observation:
In case of a full wave rectifier we get unidirectional output for both cycles of the input
signal,the rectifier efficiency is twice than that of half wave rectifier.The ripple factor
is less than that of half wave rectifier and it can be further reduced by using a
capacitor filter as shown.

Conclusion:
The full wave rectifier uses two diodes.It adds to the cost,but increases the output voltage
and also decreases the ripple factor.As we get output for the full cycle of the input a.c
voltage,this rectifier circuit is known as full wave rectifier.

Error:
Theoretical value of the ripple factor for a full wave rectifier is 0.482
Experimental value of the ripple factor(without filter) = 0.473
The percentage error={(0.482-0.473)/0.482}x100 = 1.867%

Aim3:- Study of diode as a bridge rectifier

Electronic parts required:

1) centre-tap transformer of input (220 v) to output (18-0-18 v)
2) Four 1N4007 diode

3) Load resistance=RL=10 k
4) Capacitors=C=47 F
5) Two DT-830D multimeters

Operation:
Bridge rectifier is a rectifier circuit widely used in power circuits and in rectifier type
meters. The basic circuit of a bridge rectifier is shown in figure. Input a.c from mains is
supplied to the rectifier via a transformer.Let at any instant the point A is at positive
potential with respect to the point B. Then the diodes D1 and D3 conducts.During the
next half cycle the point A becomes negative with respect to the point B, then the
diodes D2 and D4 conduct. However the direction of the load current remains same.As a
result the waveform of the rectified current is same as in the case of a full wave rectifier.
Here two diodes conduct simultaneously and are in series with each other.

 Data:
Sl no. Vin
(ac
volts)

1
2
3

18.02
18.05
17.96

Without filter
Voutput,d.c
15.07
15.11
15.10

Voutput,a.c
7.50
7.47
7.51

C
(F)

0.498 47
0.494
0.497

With filter
Voutput,d.c
23.65
23.62
23.70

Voutput,a.c
-3
0.1x10
-3
0.1x10
-3
0.1x10

-6
4.2x10
-6
4.2x10
-6
4.2x10

Observation:
The bridge rectifier is nothing but a special case of a full wave rectifier.So the
observation is same as in the case of a full wave rectifier.

Conclusion:
In a bridge rectifier circuit two diodes conduct simultaneously for each half cycle and are in
series with each other.It is a special case of full wave rectifier where a transformer without a
centre tap is used.

Error:
The theoretical value of ripple factor for a full wave rectifier is 0.482
The experimental value of the ripple factor without filter = 0.496
The percentage error={(0.496-0.482)/0.482}x100 = 2.905%

Aim4:- study of diodes as a doubler circuit

Electronic parts required:

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

centre-tap transformer of input (220 v) to output (18-0-18 v)

Four 1N4007 diode
Load resistance=RL=10 k
Capacitors=C=47 F,47F
Two DT-830D multimeters

Circuit diagram:

Operation:
This circuit is the same as in the case of a bridge rectifier except that an extra capacitor is
connected across the load in parallel as shown. These two capacitors are analogous to two
batteries in series, therefore their voltages add up. The circuit arrangement charges both
the capacitors during each half cycle. The circuit components are chosen such that it gives
an output double the value of the input voltage.

Data:
Sl.no.

1
2
3

Vin(ac volts) Capacitor

value
17.70
17.94
18.03

47,47

Vout,dc
(volts)
47.30
47.10
47.10

With filter
Vout,ac
(volts)
-3
.1x10
-3
.1x10
-3
.1x10

(ripple factor)
-6

2.1x10
-6
2.1x10
-6
2.1x10

Observation:
The value of the output voltage is 47.167 V given the input voltage is 25.290 (peak value).

Conclusion:
As the output voltage is twice than that of the input voltage,the circuit acts as a voltage
doubler circuit.

Error:
Theoretical output voltage = 50.5
Experimental output voltage = 47.167 v
Percentage error={(50.580-47.167)/50.58}x100 = 6.75%