Advantages and disadvantages of bridge rectifier

Advantages:

• Transformer utilization factor, in case of a bridge rectifier, is higher than that of a centre-tap rectifier.
• It can be used in application allowing floating output terminals, i.e. no output terminal is grounded.
• The need for centre-tapped transformer is eliminated.
• The transformer is less costly as it is required to provide only half the voltage of an equivalent centre-tapped transformer used in a full wave rectifier.
• If stepping up or stepping down of AC voltage is not needed, and then it does not even require any transformer.
• The PIV is one half that of centre-tap rectifier. Hence bridge rectifier is highly suited for high voltage applications.

Disadvantages:

• Two diodes in series conduct at a time on alternate half cycles. This creates a problem when low DC voltages are required. This leads to poor voltage regulation.
• It requires four semiconducting diodes.