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half wave rectifier

Setup: transformer, single rectifier in series with a load
resistor.

Will the power company still bill me for the half of the cycle where
no power is drawn by the load resistor?

Michael
 
T

Tom Biasi

Jan 1, 1970
0
Setup: transformer, single rectifier in series with a load
resistor.

Will the power company still bill me for the half of the cycle where
no power is drawn by the load resistor?

Michael

The power company bills by the amount of power you take from them.
Review Volts times Amps and take a look at "power factor " while you are at
it and then get back.

Tom
 
P

Phil Allison

Jan 1, 1970
0
Setup: transformer, single rectifier in series with a load
resistor.

Will the power company still bill me for the half of the cycle where
no power is drawn by the load resistor?


** Fact is there will not be any missing half cycles in the primary current
of the transformer - and the current draw wave will be far from sine or
symmetrical.

Also, the iron core may become so magnetised by this that large current
peaks occur in the primary producing lots of causing "I squared R "
ating - and YOU have to pay for that !!



....... Phil
 
T

terryS

Jan 1, 1970
0
Setup:  transformer, single rectifier in series with a load
resistor.

Will the power company still bill me for the half of the cycle where
no power is drawn by the load resistor?

Michael

Suppose I put a single (large) rectifier in series with a resistive
load, say an electric heater for example, across the the two 230 legs
of my 115/230 volt supply? What then?
Successive half waves of current?
Power consumed = half?
Effect on utility electric meter?
 
Heater is half as hot.


It reads half.


That's what I thought, assuming an ideal universe - but then again I
don't know the limitations on the electric meter...

Reason for posting - I read about how a half-wave rectifier is
"inefficient" compared with a full wave rectifier... now wait a
minute, one rectifier vs. 4 rectifiers... to save a few pennies in
electricity... let's compare the cost of the 3 additional rectifiers
with the different electric bill... WHAT different electric bill?
What if the utility company won't bill for the unused half-cycles? ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rectifier#Half-wave_rectification
"Because only one half of the input waveform reaches the output, it is
very inefficient if used for power transfer."

Michael
 
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