What is a Bridge Rectifier?

What is a Bridge Rectifier?

What is a Bridge Rectifier?  
A bridge rectifier is an arrangement of four or more diodes in a bridge circuit configuration which provides the same output polarity for either input polarity. It is used for converting an alternating current (AC) input into a direct current (DC) output. A bridge rectifier provides full-wave rectification from a two-wire AC input, therefore resulting in lower weight and cost when compared to a rectifier with a 3-wire input from a transformer with a center-tapped secondary winding.

Types of Bridge Rectifiers 
There are many different kinds of bridge rectifiers at Topdiode, we supply many of the most common types categorized by maximum average rectified current, maximum reverse voltage, maximum peak current, forward voltage, packaging type and maximum reverse current. 
 
The most common sizes for maximum average rectified current are 1A, 1.5 A, 4 A, 25 A and 35 A. We also carry bridge rectifiers with maximum average rectified current as high as 1000 A. Forward voltage can range from 450 mV to 1.1 kV, with the most common bridge rectifier semiconductor chips having a forward voltage of 1.1 V or 1 V.
Bridge Rectifiers from Topdiode.
 
Applications for Bridge Rectifiers:
The primary application of bridge rectifiers is to transform an AC supply into DC power. All electronic devices require direct current, so bridge rectifiers are used inside the power supplies of almost all electronic equipment. Bridge rectifiers are also used for detecting the amplitude of modulated radio signals. The signal may be amplified before it is detected. If it is not, then a very low voltage drop diode or a diode biased with a fixed voltage must be used. Rectifiers are also used to supply polarized voltage for welding applications. Control of the output current is required in such circuits, and this may be achieved by replacing some of the diodes in a bridge rectifier with thyristors, which are diodes whose voltage output can be regulated by switching on and off with phase fired controllers.

Bridge Rectifier from Topdiode
Topdiode has a full selection of bridge rectifier chips that can be used to design a full wave bridge rectifier circuit, half wave rectifier or any other type of circuits that may require a bridge rectifier.

Through-hole Bridge Rectifier (THT type)

		Peak Repetitive Reverse Voltage
		50V	100V	200V	400V	600V	800V	1000V
Average Forward Current	0.5A			MB2M	MB4M	MB6M	MB8M	MB10M
	1.0A	DB101	DB102	DB103	DB104	DB105	DB106	DB107
	1.5A	DB151	DB152	DB153	DB154	DB155	DB156	DB157
				D2SB20	D2SB40	D2SB60	D2SB80
	2.0A	GBL201	GBL202	GBL203	GBL204	GBL205	GBL206	GBL207
		KBP201	KBP202	KBP203	KBP204	KBP205	KBP206	KBP207
	3.0A	KBP301	KBP302	KBP303	KBP304	KBP305	KBP306	KBP307
	4.0A	GBL401	GBL402	GBL403	GBL404	GBL405	GBL406	GBL407
		KBJ4A	KBJ4B	KBJ4D	KBJ4G	KBJ4J	KBJ4K	KBJ4M
		D3SB05	D3SB10	D3SB20	D3SB40	D3SB60	D3SB80
		GBU4A	GBU4B	GBU4D	GBU4G	GBU4J	GBU4K	GBU4M
	6.0A	KBJ6A	KBJ6B	KBJ6D	KBJ6G	KBJ6J	KBJ6K	KBJ6M
		GBU6A	GBU6B	GBU6D	GBU6G	GBU6J	GBU6K	GBU6M
	8.0A	GBU8A	GBU8B	GBU8D	GBU8G	GBU8J	GBU8K	GBU8M
		KBJ8A	KBJ8B	KBJ8D	KBJ8G	KBJ8J	KBJ8K	KBJ8M
	10A	GBU10A	GBU10B	GBU10D	GBU10G	GBU10J	GBU10K	GBU10M
		KBJ10A	KBJ10B	KBJ10D	KBJ10G	KBJ10J	KBJ10K	KBJ10M

Surface Mount Bridge Rectifier (SMT type)

		Peak Repetitive Reverse Voltage
		50V	100V	200V	400V	600V	800V	1000V
Average Forward Current	0.5A			MB2S	MB4S	MB6S	MB8S	MB10S
	0.8A			ABS2	ABS4	ABS6	ABS8	ABS10
	1.0A	DB101S	DB102S	DB103S	DB104S	DB105S	DB106S	DB107S
	1.5A	DB151S	DB152S	DB153S	DB154S	DB155S	DB156S	DB157S