Re: rectifier stack experts?

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Craig Fuller by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <cbfull-at-hotmail-dot-com>

Jim,

I am not trying to be confrontational, but I don't think your statement is 
correct.  Maybe you can clarify what you mean, in case I misunderstood you.

The way I see it, if you draw out a full bridge, each diode in the bridge 
being rated accordingly for 1 volt (with a small margin for error, so say 
1.1 volts) and create a scenario where the cap is fully charged to 1 volt, 
and the AC signal is at a peak value (which is also +1 and -1, or vise 
versa) each diode potentially sees +2 or -2 volts as a maximum, and 
breakdown will occur.  The only place where you are protected by 2 diodes in 
series, is across the capacitor terminals, which also appears at the + and - 
terminals of the bridge.  This is not where the problem occurs.  The problem 
occurs between a polarized terminal and a non-polarized terminal of the 
bridge.  Am I making any sense, or do I have this all wrong?

Craig





>Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" 
><jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>
>
>Think of it when the output of the transformer is opposite in polarity from
>that on the capacitor.. 2*Vpeak..
>
>Bear in mind, though, that if you are using a bridge rectifier, you have
>two diodes in series, so each diode really only needs to be rated for Vpeak
>(plus margin!).