4 Diodes Turn AC into DC. Flip One and It Burns

Four diodes wired as a bridge turn AC into DC. Reverse just one of them, and the circuit can burn out. Here's how the bridge works, and what goes wrong. AC reverses direction every half cycle. When the upper input is positive, current flows through two of the diodes and the load. When the polarity flips, it takes the other two diodes and the load. Either way, current through the load always flows the same way. The output has one polarity, but the voltage still rises and falls. A large capacitor across the output smooths that ripple. Reverse one diode, and during one half cycle two diodes short the supply. That can cause a surge of current and burn them out. Check the band direction on every diode. The AC waveform is shown slowed down. #bridgerectifier #diode #electronics #electronicsbasics #insideembedded