Maker Pro
Maker Pro

Parallel Bridge Rectifiers. .

cjdelphi

Oct 26, 2011
1,166
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
1,166
My bridge rectifier died, but i have several 2amp rectifiers doing nothing, AC side it can supply 5amps at 13v (AC) to 19v when rectified..

Can i just parallel them? Otherwise i'll dump these and use 4 regular 1 amp diodes..
 

(*steve*)

¡sǝpodᴉʇuɐ ǝɥʇ ɹɐǝɥd
Moderator
Jan 21, 2010
25,510
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
25,510
In general it's a bad idea to parallel semiconductors in this manner.

However if you connect three of these 2A rectifiers in parallel and place a 0.1 ohm resistor in series with each AC input they will share current reasonably well.

1A diodes are not a better solution :)
 

(*steve*)

¡sǝpodᴉʇuɐ ǝɥʇ ɹɐǝɥd
Moderator
Jan 21, 2010
25,510
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
25,510
Oh, I'm assuming the 2A rectifiers are bridge rectifiers. Is that correct?
 

cjdelphi

Oct 26, 2011
1,166
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
1,166
Yup i got 4 unused (2amp / 240vac) but i got a feeling i might need to use like a 0.1ohm out on each to load balance?
 

cjdelphi

Oct 26, 2011
1,166
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
1,166
4 diodes (each carry 1amp max)

In a bridge rectifier combo, what is wrong with doing that? (They won't be in parallel)
 

davenn

Moderator
Sep 5, 2009
14,254
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
14,254
In a bridge rectifier combo, what is wrong with doing that? (They won't be in parallel)

what is wrong is that you haven't specifically told us what current you are likely to be drawing from the PSU ??
or what the current rating of the original diodes was ?
 

cjdelphi

Oct 26, 2011
1,166
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
1,166
I did... (5amp/13v multiply it for VA) but that's not the point

The point is, i can't use them in parallel without balance loading, so i'll use 4 diodes as i normally do without using these all in 1 bridge rectifiers ...

But Steve, in every bridge rectifier circuit i've ever built, i always used 4 diodes, that's how it's done, did you think i refered to parallel loading of the diodes? (In which case no)
 

(*steve*)

¡sǝpodᴉʇuɐ ǝɥʇ ɹɐǝɥd
Moderator
Jan 21, 2010
25,510
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
25,510
OK, let's go back to basics.

What is the load current?

If it's up to 1A you can use either the 2A bridge or 4 x 1A diodes.

If it's up to 2A you can use the 2A bridge

If it's above 2A you can use a pair of 2A bridge rectifiers, each with a pair of 0.1 ohm resistors on each of either the AC inputs or the DC outputs (that's 4 resistors for 2 bridge rectifiers).

4 x 1A diodes will make a single 1A bridge rectifier.

OK I read (now I'm awake) what I missed before that the transformer is rated at 5A AC. That's only 3.5A DC, so a pair of 2A bridge rectifiers will be fine.

Likewise 4 regular 4A diodes would be fine (actually, probably better).
 

cjdelphi

Oct 26, 2011
1,166
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
1,166
Alrighty then, 4 x 2 amp .6v diodes it is!

Shame, i wanted to use these useless 2 amp rectifiers, all sorted, cheers
 

(*steve*)

¡sǝpodᴉʇuɐ ǝɥʇ ɹɐǝɥd
Moderator
Jan 21, 2010
25,510
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
25,510
4 x 2A diodes is *exactly* the same as your 2A bridge.

Did you mean 4 x 4A diodes?
 

cjdelphi

Oct 26, 2011
1,166
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
1,166
Alright, ok i'm with it now and why i got confused...

All sorted, 4* 4amp diodes on the way :)

Thanks!
 
Top