The key difference between a full wave rectifier and a half wave rectifier is that the half wave rectifier allows one half of the applied input signal to pass whereas, the full wave rectifier allows full applied input to pass. A rectifier converts alternate current voltage into direct current voltage. A rectifier converts the AC voltage into DC output voltage. There are two types of rectifier– Full Wave Rectifier and Half Wave Rectifier.
Half Wave Rectifier:
- Rectifies only one half of each AC cycle into pulsating DC output.
- The frequency of the Half Wave Rectifier.
- Half wave rectifier is unidirectional.
- Half wave rectifier has good voltage regulation
- The efficiency is around 40%.
- The three main components of half wave rectifier are-
- Diode
- Transformer
- Resistive load
- A half wave rectifier is used in signal peak applications and rectification.
The halfwave rectifier waveform before and after rectification
Full wave Rectifier:
- Full wave rectifier converts the entire cycle of AC into pulsating DC.
- Full wave rectifiers can be constructed in two ways- The first method is by using a center tapped transformer and two diodes (Center tapped full wave rectifier) and the second method uses a transformer with diodes arranged as a bridge (Bridge rectifier).
Center Tap full Wave Rectifier
Bridge Rectifier
Difference between Half Wave Rectifier and Full Wave Rectifier
The Half wave and Full wave Rectifier have a significant difference which is-
| Half Wave Rectifier | Full Wave Rectifier |
| Half wave rectifier allows to pass one half of the applied input signals and blocks the other half signal. | Full wave rectifier has the ability to pass full applied input signal. |
| Half wave recruiter shows unidirectional nature. | Full wave rectifier shows bidirectional nature. |
| Half wave rectifiers have good voltage regulation. | Full wave rectifiers have even better voltage regulation. |
| Half wave rectifier is made up of only a single diode. | Full wave rectifiers are made up of more than one diode. |
| Max value of applied input voltage is equal to Peak inverse voltage. | Full wave rectifiers inverse voltage is twice the value of applied input voltage. |
| The peak Factor is 2. | The peak Factor 1.414 |
| The ripple factor of the half wave rectifier is 1.21. | The ripple effect of a full wave rectifier is 0.482. |
| The form factor is 1.57 in a half wave rectifier. | The form factor is 1.11 in full wave rectifiers. |
If we need a device which is low in cost and is ready to compromise on the efficiency, using a half wave rectifier is suitable. Whereas, if we’re working on a circuit board transistor that needs to be efficient then a full wave rectifier needs to be used.
