Rectifiers

Half-wave and full-wave rectifiers. Half-wave: When the input voltage is positive, diode D1 is forward-biased [on], and current flows from input to ground through the output load. The output peak voltage is the input peak voltage minus the forward-bias voltage of diode D1. When the input voltage is negative, diode D1 is reverse-biased [off], and prevents current from flowing. Full-wave: When the input voltage is positive, diodes D2_A and D2_B are forward-biased [on], and current flows from input to ground through the output load. The output peak voltage is the input peak voltage minus the forward-bias voltages of diodes D2_A and D2_B. (Diodes D2_C and D2_D are reverse-biased [off], so no current flows through them.) When the input voltage is negative, the opposite occurs: diodes D2_C and D2_D are forward-biased [on], and current flows from ground to input through the output load in the same direction. The output peak voltage is the input peak voltage minus the forward-bias voltages of diodes D2_C and D2_D. (Diodes D2_A and D2_B are reverse-biased [off], so no current flows through them.)