AC to DC voltage calculator

How to use the calculator

1. Enter the RMS AC voltage (V_AC) of your power source. This is the value typically displayed on AC power supplies.
2. Enter the frequency of the AC source (typically 50Hz or 60Hz).
3. Select the type of rectifier circuit you are using:
   • Half-wave rectifier (single diode)
   • Full-wave rectifier (bridge rectifier, most common)
4. Enter the efficiency of your rectifier circuit (typically 70-90% for modern circuits).
5. Click the "Calculate" button to compute the DC output voltage.

Understanding the results

The calculator provides three important values:

• DC Voltage (V_DC): The average DC output voltage of the rectifier.
• Peak Voltage (V_peak): The maximum voltage reached during each half-cycle of the AC waveform.
• RMS DC Voltage (V_DC(rms)): The root mean square value of the DC output, useful for comparing with AC power supplies.

Principle of AC to DC conversion

AC to DC conversion involves transforming alternating current (which flows in both positive and negative directions) into direct current (which flows in only one direction). This is typically done using rectifier circuits:

Half-wave rectifier: Allows only one half of the AC waveform to pass through, resulting in a pulsating DC signal with lower efficiency.

Full-wave rectifier: Allows both halves of the AC waveform to pass through (in opposite directions), resulting in a more continuous DC signal with higher efficiency.