Bridges of Rectification!

By Seamus Dolly

A rectifier is a device that arranges alternating current (A.C.) into direct current (D.C.). These devices are everywhere that a direct current supply is required.

The alternator in your car has a specific task and it is to charge your D.C. car battery. It cannot do this without a built-in rectifier.

Your computer, when plugged in at home or in the office, has a rectifier in sympathy with your motherboard and drives. While mobile (laptop or notebook), they are powered by battery (again, direct current). Power supplies use them after transformer stage to also deliver “juice in the right format”. D.C. welding equipment wouldn’t exist in the absence of rectifiers. All chargers from your cell or mobile phone to any portable device are complimented by their construction. That same construction has changed somewhat as they were made up of individual diodes arranged comparatively, great distances apart. One must assume that the engineers of the day were being cautious, and indeed, space meant less. Today, safety factors and their calculations, mean that space is better utilised without compromising any safety implications. The result is that bridge rectifiers are smaller, cheaper to manufacture and have become “throwaways” where failure occurs.

In summary, anything that can run from a battery is running on DIRECT CURRENT, and anything that can run from a battery and can be re-charged, at home or in the office, needs current rectification. Your mains are ALTERNATING CURRENT and both types of current can carry out the same functions, but only where considered during the manufacturing phase.

So when you re-charge something, a rectifier is quietly doing its’ job, for when it is not, you will find out about it.

About the Author:

Seamus Dolly is a Webmaster and Author. His background is in Mechanical Engineering and Analogue electronincs. His studies include A+, NET+, and SERVER+.

Seamus Dolly may be contacted at www.countcontrol.com/ or email seamus@countcontrol.com.