Design a full-wave bridge rectifier: calculate DC output voltage, ripple, capacitor sizing, PIV, diode current, and efficiency for any AC input.
The **Bridge Rectifier Calculator** designs a full-wave diode bridge AC-to-DC converter — the most common rectifier topology in power supplies. Enter the AC RMS voltage, frequency, load current, filter capacitance, and diode type, and the calculator returns the DC output voltage, peak-to-peak ripple, PIV rating, diode current requirements, output power, and efficiency. That makes it easier to check whether a basic rectifier stage is plausible before you choose parts.
Full-wave bridge rectification uses four diodes to convert both halves of the AC cycle, producing a ripple frequency of twice the line frequency. A capacitor filter smooths the output, reducing ripple at the cost of higher diode peak currents. The balance between capacitor size, ripple tolerance, and diode stress is the core design trade-off.
Use the presets for typical AC-to-DC conversions, and explore the capacitance versus ripple table to optimize your filter design. The diode reference table lists common rectifier diodes with ratings so you can move from textbook formulas to a more realistic parts check.
A bridge rectifier is simple enough to sketch quickly, but the real design still depends on ripple tolerance, diode drop, capacitor size, and surge stress. This calculator puts the DC output estimate, ripple, PIV, and diode requirements in one place so you can evaluate whether a supply concept is reasonable before selecting parts. It is most useful as a first-pass sizing check before you move to regulator selection or datasheet review.
Vpeak = Vrms × √2 Vdc (peak) = Vpeak − 2Vd Ripple: Vr ≈ Idc / (2f × C) Vdc (avg) = Vdc_peak − Vr/2 PIV = Vpeak (per diode) Efficiency: η = Pout / (Pout + 4 × Vd × Idc/2)
Result: Vdc ≈ 164.7 V, ripple ≈ 8.3 V (5.1%), PIV = 169.7 V
120 V AC peaks at 169.7 V; after two silicon diode drops (1.4 V total), peak DC is 168.3 V. With 1000 µF at 1 A, ripple is about 8.3 V, giving an average DC of ~164 V.
The capacitor does not set ripple by itself. Ripple grows when load current increases and falls when capacitance or ripple frequency increases. That is why a supply that looks smooth at light load can show large voltage sag and ripple once the real current draw is connected.
Rectifier design often looks easy if you only check average load current, but the charging pulses into the capacitor can be much sharper than the DC output suggests. PIV rating, surge current, and thermal dissipation all matter. Use the calculator to get the baseline values, then compare them against diode datasheet margins rather than treating the average current as the full story.
A bridge and capacitor can provide usable unregulated DC, but many electronics still need a regulator or downstream converter. If the ripple or no-load voltage is too high for the load, the rectifier stage is only the first step. The calculator is best used to size that front end before the regulated stage is chosen.
A bridge uses both halves of the AC cycle, which doubles the ripple frequency and reduces the capacitor needed for the same ripple target. That is why bridge rectifiers dominate low-cost AC-to-DC front ends, especially when you want better ripple without adding a second stage.
Peak Inverse Voltage — the maximum reverse voltage a diode sees. For a bridge with cap filter, PIV equals the AC peak voltage, so it is the key reverse-voltage rating to check.
Schottky diodes have lower forward voltage drop (0.3 V vs 0.7 V), reducing losses — important in low-voltage designs. They are especially attractive when every volt of headroom matters.
Increase the filter capacitance, reduce load current, add a regulator after the bridge, or use an LC stage. The right choice depends on whether size, cost, heat, or final DC quality is the main constraint, so the calculator helps you see which lever has the biggest effect.
When power is first applied, the uncharged capacitor looks like a short circuit. Use an NTC thermistor or soft-start circuit to limit inrush, especially with large capacitors.
No — this calculator is for single-phase full-wave bridge. Three-phase uses 6 diodes with different analysis, so the ripple and current paths are not the same.