EveryCircuit - Single-phase half-wave rectifier

Bushmills

6 years ago

In fact is the output not "DC", but just a clipped sinus.

rich11292000

6 years ago

@bushmills Why do you call that out? Because of 2mv in the opposite cycle?

Bushmills

6 years ago

Because of voltage fluctuating between zero and 50 Volts.

giomix

6 years ago

DC = direct current, only 1 direction, not necessary a current having " constant value". But when we say DC supply we means constant and stabilized value effectively.

Bushmills

6 years ago

Some ambiguity seems to exist around the term "DC" - wikipedia also offers contradictory information. I've carried together few articles excerpts on http://everycircuit.com/circuit/6520926267768832

Bushmills

6 years ago

What does an oscillating 555 generate? DC! 🤔 - because a rectangular output between 0 Volt and Umax is per definition DC? Sounds a tad odd.

rich11292000

6 years ago

Its DC or AC. There isn't a 3rd option

Bushmills

6 years ago

According English Wikipedia, there's also pulsating and variable. According German wikipedia, mixed voltages, as AC with a DC component, exist.

westelaudio

6 years ago

It's basically AC with DC offset, but I know it as pulsing DC

Bushmills

6 years ago

Has an own entry in wikipedia, among other saying "PDC has some characteristics of both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) waveforms. The voltage of a DC wave is roughly constant, whereas the voltage of an AC waveform continually varies between positive and negative values. Like an AC wave, the voltage of a PDC wave continually varies, but like a DC wave, the sign of the voltage is constant."

Bushmills

6 years ago

I suppose it also depends on the field of application which determines how a wave form will be called. In electronics, you're less likely to feed a piece of equipment with half wave rectified unsmoothed ... electricity than when operating, say, electrolytic metal plating devices, even if both ask for some kind of DC

rich11292000

6 years ago

There's alot of conflicting definitions. A good example: "'DC' electrons flow in one direction, 'AC' electrons flow in boths directions." The 12 volt battery in my car exhibit the characteristics of 'AC' because electrons do change directions, but I trust the manufacturer label "12VDC". Both current and electrons changed direction, but the voltage doesn't fall below 12VDC, polarity doesnt change.

rich11292000

6 years ago

I look at things from a voltage perspective. If the voltage doesn't reverse polarity, but the current does, then it's just DCing back and forth. But you can use high frequency DC pulses to drive a AC load (motor), and have a high effeciency too

PrathikP

6 years ago

Bush does have a point. The output of an unfiltered rectifier is not pure DC. As he said, it's called pulsating DC. Such a waveform has AC and DC components, and is not useful for powering stuff. See when someone says DC, by default, it means a pure, steady state current/voltage. Just like when someone says 2, it is understood that they mean +2. Similarly, DC is a steady state current, while pulsating DC is not. Pulsating DC is the output of the circuit. Hope this clears things up.

PrathikP

6 years ago

Rich your last 2 comments aren't really relavent. See when a battery "spits out current", it behaves as a source. When it "takes in" current, it behaves as a sink. You can't call it AC just because the direction of current flow seems to have changed, because it's wrong. The battery did not cause the current to "change direction". The battery charger, with a higher output voltage, forces current into the battery to charge it. The battery, here, acts as a 'sink'. When something sinks energy, it either dissipates it or stores it. AC doesn't even come into the picture here.

Bushmills

6 years ago

I thought that rich11292000 changed direction of electrons by turning the car around, thereby introducing the AC component :)

rich11292000

6 years ago

@prathikP you read the illiteracy backwards with the car battery. some have argued "electron movement" is the determining factor, it's a good definition. That's why I use the battery ad a "I'm a dumb ass example"

PrathikP

6 years ago

I guess i can't help you then. No one can.

Bushmills

6 years ago

However, the definitions of DC vs. AC may need more refinement, or otherwise http://everycircuit.com/circuit/4766693382160384

rich11292000

6 years ago

When did I ask for help? Bush is here to learn. Stop spreading your misinformation.

rich11292000

6 years ago

Good example @bush. You expose the flaw with "electron flow" definition. Its AC when the glass is half full, but its DC when the glass is half empty, all because of the reference. Even in school books I find half ass definitions.