Diodes & Rectifiers
A diode is a two-terminal electronic component that conducts electricity in only one direction. Since they allow current to flow in only one direction, they are used in a variety of applications such as rectifiers, voltage multipliers, and oscillators, as well as other electronic functions. Rectifiers are a type of diode which is used to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). They have an anode and a cathode and operate by allowing current to flow in only one direction, effectively blocking any current flow in the opposite direction. This process can be used to “rectify” AC, or turn it into a steady DC voltage. Rectifiers are used in a variety of applications including power supply circuits, providing voltage smoothing and filtering of AC signals.