DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

EECE 3301-Lab 1
Diode Circuits Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To become familiar with half-wave and full-wave rectification using

diodes.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

Instruments
1- Dual trace oscilloscope
1- DMM
1- Signal generator

Components

Resistors Doides/Transistors Capacitors

5K 4 Silicon Diodes 1- 20-F

2- 2.2 K 1 -10-F

THEORY:
The primary function of half-wave and full-wave rectification systems is to
establish a dc level employing a sinusoidal input signal that has zero average (dc) level.
Rectifiers are usually operated so that the sinusoidal input voltage and the output dc
voltage are larger compared with the diodes forward threshold voltage, V . For safety, we
will operate in the range of several volts, but this is still large compared to V . Thus, our
discussion here will ignore V and assume that a diode acts as a short-circuit when forward

Figure 2.1 Half-Wave Rectification

biased and as an open-circuit when it is reverse biased. Also, note that a source always has
output impedance that may affect your observations, when current is flowing.
 Utilizing the characteristics of a diode, we can construct a half-wave rectifier with
the circuit of Figure 2.1. The figure includes the expected output (voltage across the load
resistor) at the right of the figure. A half-wave rectifier has an average dc level equal to
31.8% of the peak value of the sinusoid.

(a) (b) (c)

Figure 2.2 Full-Wave Rectification

Full-wave rectification can be accomplished with two diodes wired as in Figure 2.2
(a), or four diodes as in 2.2 (b), yielding the waveform shown in 2.2 (c). Figure 2.2 (a)
requires a transformer with a center tap, which is connected to the load resistor (usually
through a ground, as shown). With the bridge circuit of Figure 2.2 (b), the transformer is
also necessary to observe the wave shapes.

The full-wave rectified signal of Figure 2.2 has twice the average or dc level of the
half-wave, or 63.6% of the peak value of the sinusoidal input.

Having dc voltages as shown above has little practical value. Adding a capacitor in
parallel with the load resistor will smooth the voltage. The amount of smoothing depends
on the size of the capacitor, as you will see.

Pre-Lab:
Half-Wave Rectification

a. Sketch the half-wave rectified signal for ideal diode condition for two cycles of
input signal. The input signal is 1kHz 10v (peak-peak). Sketch both input and
rectified signal on the same graph.

b. Repeat step (a) for non-ideal diodes with a forward threshold voltage drop V =
0.65V.

c. Calculate the average DC voltage of the rectified signal.

 Full-Wave Rectification

a. Sketch the Full-wave rectified signal for ideal diode condition for two cycles of
input signal. The input signal is 1kHz, 10V (peak-peak). Sketch both input and
rectified signal on the same graph.

b. Repeat step (a) for non-ideal diodes with a forward threshold voltage drop V =
0.65V. Consider both of the full-wave rectifier circuits as shown in Figure 2.2 (a)
and (b).

c. Calculate the average DC voltage of the rectified signal.

Lab-Works:
Half-Wave Rectification

a. Construct the circuit of Figure 2.1. Use the Function Generator that has no ground
on the input, and with the aid of the oscilloscope, set its output to a 1kHz, 10V
(peak-peak) sinusoid.

b. Using the other channel of the oscilloscope, observe and sketch the voltage VO and
compare to the results you expect. Before viewing V O, be sure to set the VO = 0 V
using the GND position of the AC-GND-DC switch.

c. Measure the output dc voltage with the DMM and compare to the results of step c
of the prelab.

d. Reverse the diode and sketch the output waveform.

Full-Wave Rectification

a. Test the transformer connections with an ohmmeter to determine the functional

arrangement of its leads.

b. Construct the circuit of Figure 2.2 (a).

c. Using the oscilloscope, observe and sketch the voltage VO.

d. Measure the output dc voltage with the DMM and compare to the results of step c
of Part 1.

e. Place the 10 F capacitor across the load resistor and sketch the voltage, VO.
Replace the capacitor with the 20 F electrolytic capacitor (note the polarity) and
sketch the output.
 f. Measure the output dc voltage above and the dc scale of the DMM and compare to
the results of step d above.

g. Construct the network of Figure 2.2 (b), and compare it with the result of step c.

Post-Lab:
a. Prepare the lab report according to the sample report

b. Be sure to include a sufficient description of what you did and all important results
in your report

c. Show sketches of the output for all of the above configurations

d. Indicate differences and similarities between the outputs observed and compare
them with the theoretical expectations