A bridge rectifier is a type of full-wave rectifier that uses a bridge circuit containing four individual diode semiconductor devices, known as the DB156TB. It is primarily used to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) and generally offers advantages over traditional 2-diode rectifier designs. This article will discuss the DB156TB bridge rectifier, its application field, and its working principle.

Application Field

The DB156TB bridge rectifier is widely used in household electronic appliances such as televisions, lamps, motion detectors, controlled lighting systems, and in computers, where direct current voltages and currents are needed for proper functioning. The DB156TB bridge rectifier is also used in other power-related applications, like in cars as charge regulators, air conditioning units, and in plenty of other simple applications such as constructing a power supply unit.

Working Principle

The DB156TB bridge rectifier carries four individual diodes arranged in a ‘bridge’ shape. AC input is applied to the two end terminals of the bridge, while the output is taken from the center or midpoint of the bridge. The working of the DB156TB bridge rectifier, as well as other bridge rectifiers, depends upon the principles of single diode, where current passes through the diode only in one direction. At each cycle of the input AC voltage, there is at least one pair of the diodes biased in forward direction, so the current can pass through the bridge. This action gives rise to the full-wave output.

The DB156TB bridge rectifier can provide full wave output from a single phase input. The full wave bridge rectifier allows current to flow from the positive cycle of the input waveform and from the negative cycle. The average current output is higher than that obtained from the half wave rectifier circuit for a given input power. The two waveforms of an half wave rectifier circuit and a full wave bridge rectifier circuit are compared below.

The time variable average voltage that DB156TB bridge rectifier output is twice the peak voltage of the input AC voltage. This occurs because the peak voltage is produced twice per cycle of the input AC voltage instead of just once in the half wave rectifier. It also has an advantage of delivering pulsating DC voltage; in the form of cycles, known as the ripple factor, which is much easier to smooth out using a simple filter.

Conclusion

The DB156TB bridge rectifier is one of the most commonly used rectifier circuits. It has low losses, less harmonic content in output, and relatively good regulation. The primary application of this type of rectifier is AC-DC power conversion, and it is preferred over the half wave rectifier for ease of operation and efficient control over current and voltage. Understanding the DB156TB bridge rectifier principles and its operation will help to achieve better design and power-related applications.