Dual Diode Voltage Clipper
Category: Analog Circuits
Designer: RANA MUHAMMAD ADNAN KHALIL
Notes
This circuit is designed and simulated in Proteus 7.10. In this circuit you will learn how a diode is used to clip the voltage. This circuit is very simple and easy to understand. It is recommended that first see previous circuit "Single Diode Voltage Clipper" in Analog Circuits category. The working of this circuit is given below. 1. This circuit consists of just three components, a resistor and two diodes. 2. A sinusoidal (sine wave) signal of peak amplitude 6V and 50Hz is applied at the input. 3. A resistor is placed in series with the input signal and diodes. 4. Diodes are placed in anti-parallel position, as shown in animation. 5. The output wave form is taken across the diodes D1 & D2. 6. The oscilloscope is connected at both input and output points to see the difference of input and output waveform. 7. The input wave is shown in yellow color and its ground (reference) point is shown in pink line. 8. The output wave is shown in blue color. 9. The sinusoidal wave has two cycles, positive and negative. 10. When positive cycle comes, the diode D1 is forward biased, and current will flow through the circuit, and diode D2 become reverse bias. 11. As we know from previous rectifier circuits that voltage drop across the diode is 0.7V, which can be seen in output wave form, and remaining voltage will drop across resistor 12. When negative cycle comes, the diode D1 becomes reverse bias and it cannot conduct, but diode D2 become forward bias. Therefore current will flow through diode D2. 13. So, we see that positive cycle is clipped through diode D1 (reduced) at 0.7V and negative cycle is also clipped through diode D2 at 0.7, it is shown in output. 14. The peak to peak amplitude of input wave is 12V (6V + 6V) and output wave is 1.4V (0.7V + 0.7V). 15. As both sides of input wave is clipped, therefore this circuit is called dual side diode voltage clipper. Application: 1. This circuit can be used to clip the voltage. 2. This circuit can be used to understand the dual diode clipper. Note: New circuits are added on daily, weekly and monthly basis. So come back daily to get new amazing circuits. In next circuits more advance clipper will be shown.