AC to DC Converter

The full-wave rectifier consists of an arrangement of diodes, capacitor, resistor, and an AC voltage source. The input to the circuit is an AC voltage source and its output is a DC signal, the output is not purely DC but with the use of a smoothing capacitor the output voltage can become relatively stable.

Supplies

4 IN4004 diodes, 1 100 µF capacitor, 1 1 kΩ resistor, and an AC voltage source (in testing the Agilent 33120A Function/Arbitrary Waveform Generator was used as the AC voltage source). An oscilloscope was also used to analyze the signal in the circuit.

Step 1: Process Router

Step 1: Gather all materials required and a breadboard, and ensure there is sufficient wire to connect the nodes in the circuit. 

Step 2: Begin by constructing the diode junction on the breadboard. Pay special attention to the direction of the diodes and ensure that your circuit is replicating the same formation. 

Step 3: Connect the smoothing capacitor and resistor across their respective nodes that connect the components to the diode junction. Note that the circuit’s ground and the ending node for the capacitor/resistor are not the same. Confusing these nodes will affect the wave output of the circuit.

Step 4: Connect the AC voltage source to the rails of the breadboard. The AC signal that was tested and simulated was a 10 Vpp, 120 Hz sinusoid. 

Step 5: Use an oscilloscope probe to view the signal across the resistor. You should see a DC signal at around 3 V. 

Step 6: Verify that the diode junction is working properly by removing the smoothing capacitor (the 100 µF capacitor) and viewing the voltage. It should be a sinusoid with no negative component. Every negative voltage should be flipped and now a positive voltage.