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2-4 Diode Limiting &

Clamping Circuits
OBJECTIVE
Analyze the operation of diode limiting, clamping
circuit, voltage multipliers and interpret and use
diode data sheet.
Determine V of biased limiter & used voltagedivider bias to set limiting level.
Discuss voltage doublers, triplers & quadruples.
Identify V & current ratings.
Determine the electrical characteristics of a diode.
Analyze graphical data
Select an appropriate diode for a given set of
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specifications.

Diode Limiters
Diode limiters/clippers that limits/clips the portion of signal voltage above or
below certain level.

Limiting circuits limit the positive or negative amount of an input voltage to a


specific value.

When i/p is +ve the diode becomes FB limited to +0.7 V because cathode is at
ground.

When i/p << 0.7 V-diode is RB o/p voltage likes ve part of i/p voltage
Turn the diode around-negative part of i/p voltage is clipped off.
When diode is FB-negative part of i/p voltage-diode drop -0.7V

RL
Vin
Vout
R1 RL
2

Question 4:
What would you expect to see displayed on an o
connected across RL in the limiter shown below.

Solution Question 4
The diode is forward biased and conducts
when input voltage goes below -0.7V. So, for
ve limiter, the peak output voltage across
RL is:

V p ( out )

RL
1.0k
V p ( in )

10V 9.09V
1.1k
R1 R L

The waveform is shown below:

Diode Limiters
Biased Limiters
The level to which an ac voltage is limited can be adjusted by adding bias voltage
VBIAS in series with diode.
Voltage at point A : VA = VBIAS + 0.7V (forward-biased & conduct). So, all Vin >
VA is clipped off.
For ve level, then VA = -VBIAS - 0.7V to forward-biased.
Turning diode around, +ve limiter modified to limit Vout to the portion of Vin
waveform above VBIAS 0.7V.
-ve limiter; below -VBIAS - 0.7V.
By tuning the diode around- the +ve limiter can modified to limit the o/p voltage
to the portion of the i/p voltage waveform above VBIAS-0.7V
Negative limiter limit the o/p voltage to the i/p voltage below VBIAS+0.7V

A positive limiter

A negative limiter
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Diode Limiters
Voltage-Divider Bias
The bias voltage source used to illustrate the
basic operation of diode limiters can be replace by a
resistive voltage divider that derives the desired
bias voltage from dc Vsupply .
VBIAS set by the resistor values according to the

R3
voltage-divider formula:
VSUPPLY
VBIAS
R2 R3

The desired amount of limitation can be attained by


a power supply or voltage divider. The amount
clipped can be adjusted with different levels of
VBIAS.
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The bias resistor << R1- the forward current

Example 5:
1.Sketch the output voltage waveform as
shown in the circuit combining a positive
limiter with negative limiter in Figure 5-1.

+15V
6V

6V

-15V

Figure 5-1

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2.

A student construct the circuit as


shown in Figure 5-2. Describe the output
voltage waveform on oscilloscope CH2.

+15V

+20V
CH2

-20V

Figure 5-2
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Diode Clampers
A diode clamper adds a DC level to an AC
voltage. The capacitor charges to the peak of
the supply minus the diode drop. Once charged,
the capacitor acts like a battery in series with
the input voltage. The AC voltage will ride
along with the DC voltage. The polarity
arrangement of the diode determines whether
the DC voltage is negative or positive.
For negative clamper, the diode is turn around.
A negative dc voltage is added to the input
voltage to produce the output.

Positive clamper operation


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Negative clamper operation

Also known as
dc restorers.

For a good clamping actio


RC time constant ~ 10 fin
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Diode Clampers
A Clamper Application:
A clamping circuit is often used in TV
receivers as a dc restorer.
The incoming composite video signal is
normally processed through capacitively
coupled amplifiers that eliminate the dc
component, thus losing black and white
reference levels and the blanking level.
Before applied to the picture tube, these
reference level must be restored.
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2-5 Voltage Multiplier


Use clamping action to increase peak rectified
voltages without necessary to increase input
transformers voltage rating.
Multiplication factors: two, three or four.
Three types of voltage multipliers:
* Voltage doubler
- Half wave voltage doubler
- Full wave voltage doubler
* Voltage tripler
* Voltage Quadrupler
Voltage multipliers are used in high-voltage, low
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current applications, i.e TV receivers.

Voltage Doubler
Half-wave voltage Doubler:
Clamping action can be used to increase peak
rectified voltage. Once C1 and C2 charges to the
peak voltage they act like two batteries in series,
effectively doubling the voltage output. The current
PIV = 2V
capacity for voltage multipliersp is low.

By applying Kirchhoffs Law at (b):

VC 2 V p VC1

~ approximately 2Vp (neglecting diode drop D2)

Half-wave voltage doubler operation. Vp is the peak


16 sec

Voltage Doubler
Full-wave voltage doubler:
Arrangement of diodes and capacitors takes
advantage of both positive and negative peaks to
charge the capacitors
giving it more current
forward-bias
capacity.
output
charges

forward-bias

charges

Secondary voltage positiveSecondary voltage negative


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Voltage Tripler & Voltage Quadrupler

Voltage triplers and quadruplers utilize three and


four diode capacitor arrangements, respectively.
Voltage tripler and quadrupler gives output 3Vp
and 4Vp, respectively.

Tripler output is taken across C1 and C3, thus Vout =


3Vp

Quadrupler output is taken across C2 and C4 , thus


Vout = 4Vp

PIV for both cases: PIV = 2Vp

Voltage Triple

Voltage Quadruple
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2-6 The Diode Data Sheet


The data sheet for diodes and other devices
gives detailed information about specific
characteristics such as the various
maximum current and voltage ratings,
temperature range, and voltage versus
current curves (V-I characteristic).
It is sometimes a very valuable piece of
information, even for a technician. There are
cases when you might have to select a
replacement diode when the type of diode
needed may no longer be available.
These are the absolute max. values under19

Maximum Rating
Rating

Symbo 1N400 1N400


l
1
2

Peak repetitive reverse


voltage
Working peak reverse
voltage
DC blocking voltage

VRRM

Nonrepetitive peak
reverse voltage

1N40
03

UNIT

50

100

200

VRSM

60

120

240

rms reverse voltage

VR(rms)

35

70

140

Average rectified
forward current (singlephase, resistive load,
60Hz, TA = 75oC

Io

Nonrepetitive peak
surge current (surge
applied at rated load

IFSM

VRWM
VR

A
1

A
30 (for
1

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Maximum Rating

FIGURE 2-56

A selection of rectifier diodes based on maximum ratings of


IO, IFSM, and IRRM.

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2-7 Troubleshooting
OBJECTIVE
Troubleshoot diode circuits using accepted
techniques.
Discuss the relationship between symptom &
cause, power check, sensory check,
component replacement method and discuss
the signal tracing technique in the three
Our study of these devices and how they work
variations.
leads more effective troubleshooting. Efficient
Fault analysis.
troubleshooting requires us to take logical steps in
sequence. Knowing how a device, circuit, or
system works when operating properly must be
known before any attempts are made to
troubleshoot. The symptoms shown by a defective22

Troubleshooting Techniques
Here are some helpful troubleshooting
techniques:
Power Check: Sometimes the obvious
eludes the most proficient troubleshooters.
Check for fuses blown, power cords
plugged
in, and
correct
battery
placement.
Sensory
Check:
What
you see
or smell
may lead you directly to the failure or to a
symptom of a failure.
Component Replacement: Educated
guesswork in replacing components is
sometimes
effective. Look at the point in

Signal Tracing:
the circuit or system where you first lose
the signal or incorrect signal.
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Troubleshooting Techniques
Signal tracing techniques:

Input to output

Output to input

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Fault Analysis
Can be applied when you measure an incorrect
voltage at a test point using signal tracing and
isolate
the1:
fault to a specific circuit.
Example
Effect of an Open
Diode in a HalfWave Rectifier:
Zero
voltage
Open o/p
diode breaks
the current path from
transformer secondary
winding to the
filter and load resistor
no load current.
Other faults: open
transformer winding,
open fuse, or no input

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Fault Analysis
Example 2:
Effect of an Open Diode in a Full-Wave
Rectifier:
The effect of either of two diodes is open diode,
the o/p voltage will have large than normal ripple
voltage at 60 Hz rather than at 120 Hz.

Another fault open in one of the halves of the


transformer secondary winding.

Open diode give same symptom to bridge fullwave rectifier.


(See Figure 2-63)

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Fault Analysis
Example 3:
Effect of a Shorted
Diode in a Full- Wave
Rectifier:
Fuse should blow cause
by short circuit
D1,D4 will probably burn
open.

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Fault Analysis
Example 4:
Effect of a fault filter capacitor:
Open o/p is full-wave rectified voltage
Shorted the o/p is 0V
Leaky increase the ripple voltage on
the o/p
Example 5:
Effect of a Faulty Transformer:
Open primary/secondary winding of a
transformer 0V o/p

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The complete Troubleshooting


Process
The complete troubleshooting process:
i.
Identify the symptom(s).
ii.
Perform a power check
iii. Perform a sensory check
iv. Apply a signal tracing technique.
v.
Apply fault analysis
vi. Use component replacement to fix the
problem.

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The basic function of a power supply to give us a


smooth ripple free DC voltage from an AC voltage.

Half-wave rectifiers only utilize half of the cycle to


produce a DC voltage.
Transformer Coupling allows voltage manipulation
through its windings ratio
Full-Wave rectifiers efficiently make use of the
whole cycle. This makes it easier to filter.
The full-wave bridge rectifier allows use of the full
secondary winding output whereas the centertapped full wave uses only half.
Filtering and Regulating the output of a rectifier
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helps keep the DC voltage smooth and accurate

Limiters are used to set the output peak(s) to


a given value.
Clampers are used to add a DC voltage to an
AC voltage.
Voltage Multipliers allow a doubling, tripling,
or quadrupling of rectified DC voltage for low
current applications.
The Data Sheet gives us useful information
and characteristics of device for use in
replacement or designing circuits.
Troubleshooting requires use of common
sense along with proper troubleshooting

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