Half-Wave Rectifier (Copy)
·
Created Oct 31, 2026
·
Updated Oct 31, 2026
Details
Components
3
Schematic
Yes
Simulation
Transient analysis
Copies
Not copied yet
Tags
No tags yet.
About this circuit
Pass the positive half-cycles of an AC voltage through a diode to make a pulsating, unfiltered DC output.
Circuit notes
Half-Wave Rectifier
Pass the positive half-cycles of an AC voltage through a diode to make a pulsating, unfiltered DC output.
V1 supplies a 5 V peak, 100 Hz sine wave. D1 passes current toward R1 = 1 kΩ during positive half-cycles. Negative half-cycles reverse-bias the diode. Vin is measured before D1; Vout is measured across R1.
The output contains one positive pulse every 10 ms. Its peak is about 4.31 V for this generic diode model and load. The forward drop varies with current, so the first equation is an approximation. With no filter capacitor, the output falls back to nearly zero between pulses.
Read the chart. Vin is green and Vout red. Iin is blue and equals the load current. The three-cycle view makes the blocked negative half-cycles clear; reverse leakage may produce tiny negative values near zero.
Try it. Change R1’s Resistance to 2 kΩ. Current approximately halves and the lower current slightly reduces diode forward drop, raising the output peak. Restore 1 kΩ.
Model limits. D1 uses saturation current 10 fA and emission coefficient 1 at 27 °C. Its junction capacitance, transit time and series resistance are omitted. This is a resistively loaded, unfiltered rectifier; it does not supply a smooth DC rail.
Components used
Components used
3 components
SPICE netlist
* **************************************************
* Generated from CircuitSim Schematic
**************************************************
X_D1 N1 N2 DIODE_25d079d4 IS=10f RS=0 N=1 BV=1e30 IBV=100p CJO=0 VJ=1 M=0.5 TT=0 EG=1.11 XTI=3 KF=0 AF=1 FC=0.5 ISR=0 NR=2 IKF=1e30 TNOM=27 IC=0 TEMP=27
R_R1 N2 0 1k Resistor_1d9c8cf9a__R_R1
V_V1 N1 0 dc 0 ac 1 0 distof1 0 0 distof2 0 0 sin ( 0 10 50 0 0 0 )
E_VP1 VP1 0 N1 0 1
E_VP2 VP2 0 N2 0 1
**************************************************
* Models and supporting definitions follow
**************************************************
* Source-compatible two-terminal junction diode
.subckt DIODE_25d079d4 A K params: IS=1e-14 RS=0 N=1 BV=1e30 IBV=100p CJO=0 VJ=1 M=0.5 TT=0 EG=1.11 XTI=3 KF=0 AF=1 FC=0.5 ISR=0 NR=2 IKF=1e30 TNOM=27 IC=0 TEMP=27
.model DIODE_25d079d4_CORE D(IS={IS} RS={RS} N={N} BV={BV} IBV={IBV} CJO={CJO} VJ={VJ} M={M} TT={TT} EG={EG} XTI={XTI} KF={KF} AF={AF} FC={FC} ISR={ISR} NR={NR} IKF={IKF} TNOM={TNOM})
DCORE A K DIODE_25d079d4_CORE IC={IC} TEMP={TEMP}
.ends DIODE_25d079d4
.model Resistor_1d9c8cf9a__R_R1 r(tc1=0 tc2=0 tnom=27)
**************************************************
* Simulation settings
**************************************************
.tran 10u 30m 0 10u
.save V(VP1) V(VP2)
.endTry this circuit yourself
Free to get started. No download — runs in your browser with a full SPICE engine.