Definition: Pi filter consists of a shunt capacitor at the input side, and it is followed by an L-section filter. The output from the rectifier is directly given across capacitor. The pulsating DC output voltage is filtered first by the capacitor connected at the input side and then by choke coil and then by another shunt capacitor. The construction arrangement of all the components resembles the shape of Greek letter Pi (π). Thus it is called Pi filter. Besides, the capacitor is present at … [Read more...] about Pi Filter
Choke Filter
Definition: Choke filter consists of an inductor connected in series with rectifier output circuit and a capacitor connected in parallel with the load resistor. It is also called L-section filter because the inductor and capacitor are connected in the shape of inverted L. The output pulsating DC voltage from a rectifier circuit passes through the inductor or choke coil. The inductor has low DC resistance and extremely high AC reactance. Thus, ripples get filtered through choke coil. Some of … [Read more...] about Choke Filter
Filter
Definition: The filter circuit is necessary for smoothing of the voltage obtained by the rectifier. The obtained DC voltage contains AC components. These AC components are called ripples. The filter circuit is needed to remove the ripples from DC output voltage so that the output voltage across the load will be regulated. Significance of Filter Circuit Filter Circuit is connected between the load and output of rectifier circuit. If this filter circuit is not connected between the rectifier … [Read more...] about Filter
Full Bridge Rectifier
Definition: Bridge rectifier is formed by connecting four diodes in the form of a Wheatstone bridge. It also provides full wave rectification. During the first half of AC cycle, two diodes are forward biased and during the second half of AC cycle, the other two diodes become forward biased. In this way, the rectifier provides DC output during positive AC cycle as well as during negative AC cycle. Circuit Components of Bridge Rectifier It consists of a step-down transformer, four diodes … [Read more...] about Full Bridge Rectifier
Full Wave Rectifier
Definition: Full wave rectifier is the semiconductor devices which convert complete cycle of AC into pulsating DC. Unlike half wave rectifiers which uses only half wave of the input AC cycle, full wave rectifiers utilize full wave. The lower efficiency drawback of half wave rectifier can be overcome by using full wave rectifier. Circuit Diagram of Full wave Rectifier The rectifier circuit consists of a step-down transformer, and two diodes are connected, and they are centre tapped. Thus, this … [Read more...] about Full Wave Rectifier
Half Wave Rectifiers
Definition: Half wave rectifier is that in which the half cycle of AC voltage gets converted into pulsating DC voltage. The remaining half cycle of AC is suppressed by rectifier circuit or the output DC current for remaining half cycle is zero. Circuit Diagram of Half Wave Rectifier The AC input signal is first passed through transformer because the AC signal is generally supplied in high voltage because it is economical to provide AC at high voltage. The transformer present in half wave … [Read more...] about Half Wave Rectifiers
Rectifier
A rectifier is a device which converts sinusoidal AC (alternating current) voltage into pulsating DC (Direct Current) voltage. The single phase rectifiers are classified basically into two types that are half wave rectifier and full wave rectifier. Half wave rectifiers are those which convert one-half cycle of AC voltage into DC voltage, while full wave rectifiers are those which utilize positive half cycle as well as the negative half cycle for generation of pulsating DC voltage. Circuit … [Read more...] about Rectifier
Thermistor
Definition: The word Thermistor is formed by two words Thermal and Resistor. It is a solid state device in which resistance varies with the ambient temperature. Most thermistors possess negative temperature coefficient. Only few exhibit positive temperature coefficient. You must be thinking what is negative temperature coefficient and what is positive temperature coefficient? May be some of the readers are aware of this term, but the beginners may not have heard this term before. So let us … [Read more...] about Thermistor
Varistor
Definition: The term Varistor is formed by the combination of two words Variable and Resistor. It means it is a variable resistance. The resistance of varistors varies with the applied voltage. The resistance shows nonlinear behaviour with applied voltage. The varistors protect the circuit by allowing excess current to flow through them and prevent the circuit from getting damaged.The current- voltage characteristics of varistor also possess nonlinear characteristics. You must be thinking … [Read more...] about Varistor
Backward Diode
Definition: A backward diode is a semiconductor device which works in reversed biased mode. It is designed by providing variation in the design characteristics of Zener diode and tunnel diode. It is unilateral device because its designing mechanism allows it to operate in one direction only. It is designed for specific purpose. It works in the same way in reverse biasing as the conventional diode operates in forward biasing. The negative resistance characteristics of tunnel diode are used in … [Read more...] about Backward Diode