Bridge rectifier calculator

Calculate full-wave bridge output, ripple frequency and diode/load currents.

Schematic

Loading CircuitSim schematic…

Results

Average output voltage5.03 V

Input and rectified output

InputOutput

Peak output	8.6 V
RMS output	5.84 V
Pulse frequency	100 Hz

Advanced results

Average load current	5.03 mA
Peak load current	8.6 mA
Load power	34.08 mW
Conduction angle per half-cycle	163.9 °

How bridge rectifier works

Two diodes conduct on each half-cycle. The bridge flips the negative input half-cycle so current flows through the load in the same direction. D2–D4 follow D1’s forward drop. The output is pulsating DC; this example has no smoothing capacitor.

v_o(t)=\max(0,|V_p\sin(2\pi ft)|-2V_F)

Constant-drop diodes, ideal source and resistive load. The guest adds a small diode on resistance.

Change the form inputs or click a component value on the schematic. Choose Try in CircuitSim to simulate the configured circuit.

Do the math

Selected input values
V1 — Input peak voltage	10 V
R1	1 kΩ
D1	700 mV
V1 — AC input frequency	50 Hz

Peak output: $V_{pk}=V_p-V_{drop}$
$10\,\mathrm{V}-1.4\,\mathrm{V}$
≈ 8.6 V
Conduction starts: $\alpha=\sin^{-1}(V_{drop}/V_p)$
$\sin^{-1}\left(\frac{1.4\,\mathrm{V}}{10\,\mathrm{V}}\right)$
≈ 8.05 °
Average output: $V_{avg}=\frac{2V_p\cos\alpha-V_{drop}(\pi-2\alpha)}{\pi}$
$\frac{19.8\,\mathrm{V}-4\,\mathrm{V}}{\pi}$
≈ 5.03 V
Load power: $P_L=V_{rms}^2/R_1$
$\frac{(5.84\,\mathrm{V})^2}{1\,\mathrm{k\Omega}}$
≈ 34.08 mW

Bridge rectifier calculator

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Schematic

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How bridge rectifier works

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