Advantages and disadvantages of the bridge rectifier
The rectification is the process of converting an AC signal into a DC signal, the semiconductor device diode is used at the electronic circuit for the rectification process.
Bridge rectifier circuit
The figure shows the bridge rectifier circuit, the bridge connections made with four diodes will give the circuit the name bridge rectifier.
Waveform of the bridge rectifier circuit
This is the output waveform produced by the bridge rectifier, so it is a better rectifier network compared to other circuits, in this article we list and explain the advantages and disadvantages of the bridge rectifier circuit.
Advantages of a bridge rectifier
- The efficiency of the bridge rectifier is higher than all the rectifier circuits.
- DC output from bridge rectifier circuit is much more ripple-free or smooth.
- Both negative and positive half cycles of the AC wave will be equally rectified and produce a DC waveform.
- The need for a center-tapped transformer is eliminated, so the bulkiness of the circuit is minimized with this.
- Voltage Stepping up or stepping down process done with transformer is not required for bridge rectifier circuit.
- The peak inverse voltage (PIV) is one-half that of the center tap rectifier, hence bridge rectifier is highly suited for high voltage applications.
- Low power loss.
- TUF is higher compared with center-tapped rectifier
- Less expensive
- Voltage conversion is better
- Rectification is doubled
Explanation for advantages of a bridge rectifier
Efficiency of the bridge rectifier is higher
The bridge rectifier is a four-diode circuit, so the rectification factor is higher which means they had 85% efficiency.
Ripple-free & smooth output
The DC output produced by the bridge rectifier circuit will be smoother and have less ripples.
Both half-cycles will be equally rectified
Basically bridge rectifier is the full-wave circuit, which means both positive and negative half-cycles will rectify and produce a DC signal.
Small circuit arrangement
When we consider the size of the rectifier circuit, the half-wave and center-tapped rectifier circuit had a transformer. But at the bridge rectifier circuit, there is no need for a transformer in it.
Disadvantages of bridge rectifier
- The circuit of the bridge rectifier is more complex when compared to half-wave and center-tapped rectifier circuits.
- More power loss has happened at the bridge rectifier
- Voltage drop is sensed in the bridge rectifier.
- Internal resistance is high
- There is no need for a step up or step down transformer, so this causes the safety of the circuit.
- Low voltage regulation
Explanation for disadvantages of bridge rectifier
Complex circuit arrangement
When we compare the bridge rectifier with a half-wave and center-tapped rectifier circuit, it is more complex because of the four diode arrangement and filter network.
Less safety
Most of the time bridge rectifier circuit uses transformers with it, but in some circuits, a transformer-less bridge rectifier causes deadly shock.
