Lecture Notes: Basic Electronic Components and Full Wave Bridge Rectifier

Introduction

• Objective: Introduce basic electronic components and experiment with a full wave bridge rectifier with a capacitor.
• Focus:
  • Identification and function of electronic components.
  • Understanding rectification and different rectification methods.
  • Construction and working of a full wave bridge rectifier circuit.
  • Characteristics of the rectifier in a simulation platform.

Basic Electronic Components

Diode

• Physical Appearance: Silvery color (cathode) and black end (anode).
• Function: Allows current to flow in one direction (forward biased) and blocks it in the opposite direction (reverse biased).
• Application: Used as a switch in circuits.

Resistor

• Description: Common electronic component with color bands denoting resistance value.
• Example:
  • Four-band resistor: Colors brown (1), black (0), yellow (multiplier 10k ohm), gold (tolerance 5%).
  • Resistance value: 100k ohm ±5% tolerance.
• Application: Limits current in circuits to prevent damage.

Capacitor

• Types: Ceramic (non-polarized), Electrolytic (polarized).
• Function: Smoothens voltage in a circuit.

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

• Identification: Cathode (shorter leg), Anode (longer leg).
• Application: Acts as a visual indicator in circuits.
• Note: Requires a resistor to limit current to prevent burning.

Transistor

• Structure: Three legs corresponding to base, emitter, and collector.
• Function: Controls collector current by varying base voltage.
• Applications: Can act as a switch or amplifier.

Breadboard

• Structure: Contains power lines and component lines.
• Use: Holds electronic components and reduces the need for extensive wiring.

Rectifiers

• Purpose: Convert AC to DC power.
• Types:
  • Half Wave Rectifier: Uses one diode, allows current only in one half cycle.
  • Full Wave Rectifier: Converts both half cycles of input; includes:
    • Center Tap Rectifier: Uses two diodes.
    • Bridge Rectifier: Uses four diodes, most efficient.

Full Wave Bridge Rectifier with Capacitor

Working Principle

• Utilizes four diodes in a bridge configuration.
• Converts AC input to DC output through both half cycles.

Smoothing with Capacitor

• Issue: Ripple in DC output.
• Solution: Use capacitors to smoothen the voltage by charging and discharging, reducing ripple.

Simulation and Practical Observation

• Components: Transformer, diodes, resistors, capacitors, oscilloscope.
• Simulation Tool: LTSpice for circuit construction and observation.
• Observations:
  • Unsmoothed output has more ripples.
  • Adding capacitors reduces ripples, obtaining smoother DC output.
  • Larger capacitance (e.g., 100µF) yields even smoother voltage.

Conclusion

• Recap of the importance and application of basic electronic components.
• Understanding how rectifiers work through practical examples and simulations.

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End of Lecture

Thank you.