ENGR337 Lab 2020 Spring
Lab 5
Name: Nic Theobald
Email: nstheobald@fortlewis.edu
Rectifiers and DC Regulators

Introduction

This study will analyze the input and output of several types of rectifiers and DC regulators.


Materials

Methods

The rectifier shown in Circuit 1 was simulated with ideal diodes and 0.6V built in voltage diodes (Figure 1,2). The same circuit was then built on a breadboard with a 1N 5767 diode. The rectifier and smoothing circuit shown in Circuit 2 was simulated and built on a bread board. The opposing diode rectifier in Circuit 4 was simulated and built on a bread board (Figure 6, 7). Similarly, the opposing Zener diode rectifier in Circuit 5 was simulated an built on a bread board (Figure 8, 9). The doubling circuit in Circuit 6 was simulated and built on a bread board (Figure 10, 11).



Results

Task 1:

Simulated response of Vo provided an AC current through Vin (Circuit 1). Built in potential was visually determined to be 0.7V (Figure 1).





Task 2:

The rectifying circuit with smoothing capacitor acts to rectify the AC current and then smooth it with a  large capacitor.



Task 3:

The opposing diode rectifier was simulated in LTSPICE and built on a bread board. The circuit allows both positive and negative voltage to reach Vo. However the diodes eventually break down and only let about 0.5V volt through.


The opposing Zener diode rectifier was simulated in LTSPICE. The Zener diodes protect the circuit by clamping down as soon as the voltage goes above 10V.



Task 4:

The doubling circuit is simulated and built on a breadboard. This circuit stores the charge created by both positive and negative voltages and uses it to progressively step up the voltage.

Discussion

Specific results are discussing withing the results section. In general, rectifiers work to pass postive voltage and flip negative voltages. Some of these circuits included a smoothing capacitor that would store some of the energy in order to maintain a constant voltage output. The very last task included a voltage doubler that would accumulate voltage at each cycle and use it to "double" the voltage.