Full-Wave Rectifier

Use a four-diode bridge to deliver the same load-current direction during both halves of an AC cycle.

V1 supplies a 10 V peak, 100 Hz sine wave to the two AC terminals of the bridge. D1–D4 steer current through RL = 1 kΩ in the same direction on both half-cycles. Two diodes conduct in each path. Vin is measured across the floating source; its reference marker is the other AC terminal. Vout and Iload describe the DC side.

$$v_{\mathrm{out}}\approx\max\left(|v_{\mathrm{in}}|-2V_F,0\right)$$ $$f_{\mathrm{ripple}}=2f_{\mathrm{in}}=200\,\mathrm{Hz}$$

The output reaches roughly 8.6 V at the input crests and returns nearly to zero twice per cycle. Its average is positive, but its waveform is strongly pulsating. Iload follows Vout because the load is resistive.

Read the results. The green trace is the AC input, the red trace the rectified output, and the blue trace the load current. The voltage reference marker is a differential measurement connection, not a ground short across the source.

Model limits. D1–D4 use a generic junction model. The source and wiring omit transformer impedance, surge limits and thermal effects. These voltages are a low-voltage conceptual example.

Try it. Set RL to 2 kΩ; voltage changes only slightly while load current nearly halves. Restore the original values after comparing the results.