Electrical – When doing calculations regarding diodes (in half wave rectifiers), is the peak value of the sinusoidal source used, or is the rms value used

diodes

For example, in Vdc = 0.318Vs, is Vs the peak voltage, or the rms voltage. Likewise, how is the PIV determined, e.g. in part (e) of this question:

4.65 Consider the half-wave rectifier circuit of Fig. 4.21(a)
with the diode reversed. Let vS be a sinusoid with 12-V peak
amplitude, and let R = 1.5 kΩ. Use the constant-voltagedrop
diode model with VD = 0.7 V.

(a) Sketch the transfer characteristic.
(b) Sketch the waveform of vO.
(c) Find the average value of vO.
(d) Find the peak current in the diode.
(e) Find the PIV of the diode.

Fig. 4.21a

Best Answer

For example, in Vdc = 0.318Vs, is Vs the peak voltage, or the rms voltage.

You are saying DC, this means that the signal will never change. This also means that the \$V_{rms}\$ is the same as \$V_{peak}\$.

Or am I misunderstanding your awkward equation perhaps?

Perhaps you mean \$V_{DC} = 0.318 × V_s(t)\$, in this case, \$V_s(t)\$ is AC if understand it correctly, in order to turn it into DC you need to use the RMS value.

\$V_{DC} = 0.318 × \frac{12}{\sqrt2}\$ V.

I'm not sure where you are going to use this \$V_{DC}\$ since it's not asked of you in the question anywhere.

Some extra info regarding RMS. If you'd use an AC voltage source of \$100×\sin(t)\$ V to power a 60 W lamp, then you could instead use a DC voltage source of \$\frac{100}{\sqrt2} ≃ 70.7 \$ V. The lamp will consume 60 W if it's being fed a 100 V sine wave, or a 70.7 V DC voltage.


Likewise, how is the PIV determined, e.g. in part (e) of this question:

Regarding PIV, which stands for Peak Inverse Voltage. That means what is the maximum voltage across the diode in the reverse direction?

Well that would be 12 volt, assuming \$V_s(t) = 12\sin(t)\$.

It would occur when \$\sin(t) = -1\$ => \$V_s(t) = -12\$ V