Vol. IV — Electronics · Tool
AC in, pulsed DC out — then a reservoir capacitor smooths it. Half-wave uses one diode; full-wave (center-tap) and bridge double the ripple frequency. Change Vin peak, Vf, C, Rload, and line f — peak Vout and ripple update as you type.
Half-wave: one diode passes the positive crest. Peak after the diode is about Vin_peak − Vf. With a load and filter C, ripple ≈ I_load / (f · C) at the line frequency f. Negative half-cycles are discarded — larger ripple for the same C.
Full-wave (center-tap): two diodes on a center-tapped secondary; each crest charges C. Still one Vf in the path. Ripple frequency doubles to 2f, so ΔV ≈ I_load / (2f · C) — flatter for the same capacitor.
Bridge: four diodes, two in series on each half-cycle, so peak ≈ Vin_peak − 2·Vf. Same 2f ripple as full-wave, no center tap needed. Pair with the peak detector, circuit explorer Diode lesson, and RC time.