INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
CLASS 12
TOPIC: RECTIFIERS
BY:
VIJAYAGANESHAN.P
XII-C
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TABLE OF CONTENT
S.NO CONTENT PAGE
NO.
1. BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE
2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
3. TOPIC
4. AIM
5. INTRODUCTION
6. ABOUT THE TOPIC
7. FACTS
8. MATERIAL REQUIRED
9. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
10. THEORY
11. PROCEDURE
12. OBSERVATION
13. CALCULATION
14. RESULT
15. CONCLUSION
16. PRECAUTION
17. SOURCES OF ERROR
18. BIBLIOGRAPHY
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TO INVESTIGATE THE WORKING OF A RECTIFIER.
AIM:
To construct a Full Wave Bridge rectifier and show that the (AC) alternating current is
rectified into a direct current (DC).
INTRODUCTION:
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. Rectification produces a type
of DC that encompasses active voltages and currents, which are then adjusted
into a type of constant voltage DC, although this varies depending on the
current’s end-use. The current is allowed to flow uninterrupted in one direction,
and no current is allowed to flow in the opposite direction.
Physically, rectifiers take a number of forms, including vacuum tube diodes,
mercury-arc valves, copper and selenium oxide rectifiers, semiconductor diodes,
silicon-controlled rectifiers and other silicon-based semiconductor switches.
Rectifier circuits may be single-phase or multi-phase. Most low power rectifiers
for domestic equipment are single-phase, but three-phase rectification is very
important for industrial applications and for the transmission of energy as DC.
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ABOUT THE TOPIC:
RECTIFIER
Working
1. AC Input:
o The AC voltage is supplied from a step-down transformer (e.g., 220V
to 12V).
o This AC has both positive and negative half cycles.
2. During Positive Half Cycle:
o Diodes D1 and D2 become forward biased (conducting), and D3 and
D4 are reverse biased (non-conducting).
o Current flows from the transformer, through D1 → Load → D2, and
back to the transformer.
o The load receives current in one direction.
3. During Negative Half Cycle:
o Diodes D3 and D4 become forward biased, while D1 and D2 become
reverse biased.
o Current flows from the transformer, through D3 → Load → D4, and
back to the transformer.
o Again, the current through the load is in the same direction as during
the positive cycle.
4. Result:
o Both halves of the AC input are used.
o The output is pulsating DC (unidirectional but not smooth).
5. Filtering:
o A capacitor is used after the bridge to smooth the pulsating DC,
reducing ripples and giving a more constant DC output.
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Applications
1. Most electronic device cannot withstand very high voltage or alternating
current due to its intense high power.
2. The use of batteries in all devices is not practical as their replacement and
durability is a huge problem as the devise has to be dismantled each time
for such replacement.
3. So these rectifiers are used in most of the electronic devices like TV’s,
Radios, Chargers and Lightings etc. The common uses of rectifiers are to
supply polarized voltage for welding, detection of amplitude modulated
radio signals.
FACTS:
1. Rectifiers convert AC to DC – They are essential for powering any device
that needs a constant DC supply, like computers, phones, and TVs.
2. The first rectifiers used vacuum tubes – Before semiconductors were
invented, vacuum tube diodes were used to build rectifiers.
3. Bridge rectifiers are more efficient than half-wave rectifiers – Because
they use both halves of the AC cycle, they produce smoother and more
continuous DC output.
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APPARATUS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED:
1. Connecting Wires
2. A plug
3. Single Lead Wire – 2m
4. Three Nuts & Bolts – 2-3 cm length
5. Circuit Board
6. A Transformer (12V)
7. A Resistor
8. P-N Junction Diodes (4 nos)
9. A LED
10. Insulation Tape, Blades, Soldering Wax, Soldering Lead, Soldering
Iron & Sand Paper
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:
PROCEDURE :
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1. Take the transformer and attach it to one end of the circuit board.
2. Attach the plug with the wire of desired length and connect it to the
transformer AC In.
3. Now, take four diodes and connect the 4 diodes into a loop. Connect the
anode of diode D1 to the anode of D2.
4. Connect the cathode of D2 to anode of D3. Connect the cathode of D3 to
anode of D4 and connect the anode of D4 to cathode of D1.
5. The output of transformers should be connected to A and C.
6. Now, take two capacitors and connect its –ve terminal to –ve and +ve
terminal to +ve.
7. And connect both the capacitors to B and D. Connect a resistor and a LED to
the capacitor. Attach wire from the capacitors.
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PRECAUTIONS:
1. Check diode polarity carefully before soldering to avoid wrong
connections in the bridge circuit.
2. Use appropriate voltage rating for transformer and components to prevent
damage.
3. Ensure proper insulation of wires to avoid short circuits and shocks.
4. Handle the soldering iron with care and work in a ventilated area to avoid
burns and inhalation of fumes.
SOURCES OF ERROR:
1.Improper diode connection (wrong polarity) can lead to incorrect
rectification or no output.
2.Loose connections may cause intermittent current flow or fluctuating output.
3.Leaky or faulty capacitors may fail to filter the output properly, resulting in
ripples.
4.Inaccurate measurement instruments (like multimeters) can lead to wrong
voltage/current readings.
.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY:
www.sribd.com
www.Wikipediaa.com
www.physics.kenyon.edu
www.encyclopedia.com
www.electricaleasy.com
www.slideshare.net
www.studocu.com
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