Half wave rectifier

The half wave rectifier is a type of rectifier that rectifies only half cycle of the waveform. The basic rectifier circuit consists of AC power source, diode, and a load connected in series. The alternating current has positive wave and negative wave and the diode will allow only the positive half to pass and block the negative half. The output is pulsating Direct Current to the load.

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Since voltage of AC supply from the usual outlet is high, a step down transformer is used on a rectifier circuit. It reduces the voltage and supply to the diode.

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The mean voltage is lower on a half wave rectifier because only half of the input waveform reaches the output. A single-phase requires one diode and three-phase requires three diodes in a circuit.