Description

Bridge rectifiers change AC voltage into DC voltage. They are used in a wide variety of electronics and most often found in AC powered devices, modern home telephones, simple plug-in power supplies and even in high horsepower motor controllers. Many modern devices have benefited from these solid-state silicon semiconductor devices, as they have replaced the failure-prone metal oxide rectifiers used many years ago.

Bridge rectifiers can be either in a \'half wave\' or a \'full wave\' configuration. Electrolytic filter capacitors are commonly added to smooth the rectification pulsations. The device can also be used for assuring that DC (battery) power happens in a fixed way even if the battery is connected improperly. In modern telephones, they assure proper connectivity and electrical isolation to the incoming phone lines. Even if the phone wires are miswired, the phone will still work properly.