What is the output voltage when 120VAC is connected to a full wave rectifier?

In a full-wave rectifier, the alternating current (AC) input is converted into direct current (DC). When considering the output voltage of a full-wave rectifier connected to a 120VAC source, it is important to understand how the process of rectification affects the voltage level.

The root mean square (RMS) voltage of an AC supply (in this case, 120VAC) can be converted to peak voltage (V_peak) by multiplying the RMS value by the square root of 2. The calculation for the peak voltage of a 120VAC supply goes as follows:

V_peak = V_RMS * √2

V_peak = 120V * 1.414 ≈ 169.7V

A full-wave rectifier utilizes both halves of the AC waveform, allowing it to produce a pulsating DC voltage that is essentially the peak voltage minus voltage drops due to the rectifier components. Each diode in the rectifier introduces a forward voltage drop (typically around 0.7V for silicon diodes). In a full-wave configuration, two diodes are used in each cycle, resulting in a total drop of approximately 1.4V.

Thus, after accounting for this diode drop, the output DC voltage