Half-wave rectification
Electrical Technology · Grade 10 · about 40 minutes
One diode passes only the positive half of AC, giving pulsing DC at 50 Hz. Simple, but it wastes the other half.
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Other lessons in this sub-strand
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- Diode structure, terminals and symbol
- Forward bias: how a diode conducts
- Reverse bias: how a diode blocks
- Turn-on voltage: silicon, germanium and LED
- The diode characteristic curve
- Plotting a diode characteristic in the workshop
- Rectifier diodes and their ratings
- Half-wave rectification
- Full-wave bridge rectification
- Smoothing and ripple
- The complete DC power supply
- Light emitting diodes
- Zener diodes
- Testing a diode with a meter
- Where diodes are used, and why they matter