Electrical calculator

AC to DC Rectifier Calculator

Ideal half-wave/full-wave rectified waveform — peak, average and RMS voltage, with optional capacitor ripple estimation. Runs locally in your browser.

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Instant result

Result

—

Enter values to calculate.

Inputs—

Mode—

Formula—

Trust summary CVP VERIFIED · CVP protocol 1.0.0-proposed · Engineering assurance

Input interpretation: Enter values to calculate.
Result: —
Assurance: Engineering
Declared partition coverage: PASS · 3/3 declared partitions (waveform, smoothed, invalid-domain) · Matrix
Known limitations: Ideal diodes; continuous-discharge Cap model when I+C given
Core CVP does not include live graph, viewport, or pointer interaction.
Model: Unfiltered rectified waveform voltages, or capacitor-smoothed DC estimate and ripple — two separate circuit models.
Scope: Ideal diodes (zero forward drop; no reverse recovery)
Verification: Engine tested · Source checked · v1.1.2 · CVP VERIFIED · CVP protocol 1.0.0-proposed · Engineering assurance· View Manifest · CVP overview · Specification
Versions: Calculation 1.1.2 · CVP protocol 1.0.0-proposed
CVP identity: 16/16 property · digest 5a857ec1e482
Legacy regression: 27/27 tests · Production surface contract 4/4
Reference: O1 model · O2 expected_values · O2 numerical_behavior
Interfaces: PASS · UI (SSR) / REST / MCP — ui-ssr is query-result HTML, not a live browser session.
Supplemental domain review: Internal · Pass · electrical-engineer · 2026-08-18
Named expert review: Not performed
CVP suite: 3/3 golden · 8/8 CVP boundary · 7/7 invalid · 16/16 property · 1/1 cross-interface · 1/1 CVP contract · Manifest
Sources: Texas Instruments — A Design Review of a Full-Featured 350-W Offline Power Supply (TIDU186) — Figure 4 — ideal bridge / half-wave average and RMS
Analog Devices — Diode Applications, Rectifier Output Smoothing — Capacitor-input filter / reservoir capacitor
IEC 60050 — International Electrotechnical Vocabulary — Electronic power conversion (IEV 551-11-02)
IEC 60050 — International Electrotechnical Vocabulary — Semiconductor diode (IEV 521-04-03)
Sources
Evidence: 3 legacy golden · 8 legacy boundary · legacy regression suite · 3/3 oracle-backed golden · 7/7 invalid · Artifact integrity PASS · CalculatorX electrical review
Semantic contract: PASS

Full verification

Manifest identity, reference classes, interfaces, suite, and production records.

Formulas

Core equations used by this calculator.

Peak (both models)Vpeak = √2 · Vac_rms

Full-wave average (no C)Vavg = 2·Vpeak/π

Half-wave average (no C)Vavg = Vpeak/π

Full-wave RMS (no C)Vrms_out = Vac_rms

Capacitor rippleΔV ≈ I / (f_ripple · C)

Estimated DC with CVdc_est ≈ Vpeak − ΔV/2

iIdeal diodes (0 V drop). Vavg is the unfiltered pulsed-sine average. Enabling the reservoir capacitor switches to a different model: Vdc_est ≈ Vpeak − ΔV/2 with ΔV ≈ I/(f_ripple·C). Ripple is first-order continuous conduction. Not for SCR/PFC stages.

How to use

Choose half-wave or full-wave

Full-wave uses a bridge (rectified/ripple frequency 2× line); half-wave uses a single diode (frequency = line).

Enter AC RMS voltage and line frequency

Vac must be greater than zero. Peak, average, and RMS of the unfiltered rectified waveform update from Vac. Default line frequency is 50 Hz.

Optional: include a smoothing capacitor

This is a different circuit. Enter both load current and C to estimate ΔV, Vdc, Vmax, and Vmin. C alone or I alone is rejected. Default C unit in the UI is µF; the API uses farads.

Example calculations

Common configurations with formula and result.

230 V full-wave, no capacitor

Vac=230 · full-wave

2√2·230/π

Vavg ≈ 207.073 V · Vpeak ≈ 325.269 V (not 207 V DC)

12 V · 1 A · 2000 µF · 50 Hz full

Capacitor-smoothed model

ΔV=1/(100·0.002); Vdc≈Vpeak−ΔV/2

ΔV=5 Vpp · Vdc_est ≈ 14.471 V (unfiltered Vavg ≈ 10.804 V is a different model)

AC to DC Rectifier calculator specification

Version 1.1.2 · Engine tested · Supplemental domain review · Internal · 2026-08-18

Calculation status

Engine tested 27/27 tests · Production surface contract 4/4
Supplemental domain review Internal · Pass · electrical-engineer · 2026-08-18
Named expert review Not performed
Calculation version 1.1.2

Review policy · Evidence · Reviewed by CalculatorX electrical review (electrical-engineer)

Definition: Two circuit models. Rectified waveform (no C): Vpeak=√2·Vac, full-wave Vavg=2Vpeak/π, half-wave Vavg=Vpeak/π, Vrms_full=Vac, Vrms_half=Vac/√2. Rectifier + smoothing capacitor: ΔV≈I/(f_ripple·C), Vdc_est≈Vpeak−ΔV/2. Vavg is never the capacitor DC bus.
What it calculates: Unfiltered rectified waveform voltages, or capacitor-smoothed DC estimate and ripple — two separate circuit models.
Inputs: mode half|full
Vac_rms>0
f_line_Hz default 50
I_load_A and C_F together for capacitor model
Outputs: circuit_model
Vpeak
Vavg (unfiltered)
Vrms_out
f_ripple_Hz
ripple_Vpp / Vdc_est / Vmin / Vmax when C+I
model_validity
Formula: Vpeak=√2·Vac; Vavg=2Vpeak/π (full, no C); Vdc≈Vpeak−ΔV/2 with ΔV≈I/(f_ripple·C)
Assumptions: Ideal diodes (zero forward drop; no reverse recovery)
Rectified-waveform model: no reservoir capacitor; Vavg is the pulsed-sine average
Capacitor-smoothed model: constant-current discharge; Vdc_est ≈ Vpeak − ΔV/2
Continuous-conduction ripple approximation ΔV ≈ I/(f_ripple·C)
If ΔV ≥ Vpeak, Vdc_est and Vmin are withheld; only raw_model_extrapolation keeps the arithmetic
Units: V, A, F, Hz
Boundary conditions: Vac≤0 → VALUE_MUST_BE_POSITIVE
I without C, or C without I → NEEDS_TWO_INPUTS
C≤0 or f_line≤0 or I≤0 (when capacitor model) → VALUE_MUST_BE_POSITIVE
ripple_Vpp ≥ Vpeak → RIPPLE_EXCEEDS_PEAK; Vdc_est and Vmin withheld (model_validity.valid=false)
Example: 230 V full-wave → Vavg≈207.073 V · Vpeak≈325.269 V
Validation cases: 2 published on this page · 27/27 tests · Production surface contract 4/4 · View evidence
Vac=230 full → Vpeak≈325.269 Vavg≈207.073 Vrms=230
Vac=12 I=1 C=0.002 f=50 full → ripple=5 Vpp Vdc_est≈14.471 V
Sources: Texas Instruments — A Design Review of a Full-Featured 350-W Offline Power Supply (TIDU186) — Figure 4 — ideal bridge / half-wave average and RMS
Supports: Vavg_full=2Vp/π; Vavg_half=Vp/π; Vrms_full=Vac; Vrms_half=Vac/√2
Analog Devices — Diode Applications, Rectifier Output Smoothing — Capacitor-input filter / reservoir capacitor
Supports: ΔV≈I/(f_ripple·C); full-wave ripple frequency is 2·f_line
IEC 60050 — International Electrotechnical Vocabulary — Electronic power conversion (IEV 551-11-02) · accessed 2026-09-05
Supports: Change of voltage/frequency characteristics (including zero frequency / DC) by electronic valve devices — terminology only, not the Vavg/ripple formulas
IEC 60050 — International Electrotechnical Vocabulary — Semiconductor diode (IEV 521-04-03) · accessed 2026-09-05
Supports: Two-terminal semiconductor device with asymmetrical V–I characteristic (ideal-diode model on this page ignores forward drop)
Last reviewed: 2026-08-18
Reviewed by: CalculatorX electrical review (electrical-engineer)
Calculation version: 1.1.2

Background

Interpretation and common distinctions.

Ideal half-wave / full-wave voltages, with an optional reservoir-capacitor model.

These are two circuit models. 230 V RMS full-wave without C is Vavg ≈ 207.073 V (pulsed-sine average) and Vpeak ≈ 325.269 V. Adding a bulk capacitor moves the DC bus toward peak, not toward 207 V.

Supported and not supported

Supported — Ideal half/full-wave waveform (Vpeak / Vavg / Vrms) · capacitor-smoothed estimate (Vdc / Vmin / Vmax / ΔV) · API electrical.ac_dc_rectifier

Not supported — Diode forward drop, SCR, active PFC, multi-stage SMPS, discontinuous-conduction exact waveforms

Agent / API notes

Capability id: electrical.ac_dc_rectifier · tool id: ac-dc-rectifier · pin 1.1.2.

circuit_model is rectified_waveform unless both I_load_A and C_F are provided (capacitor_smoothed). Vavg is always the unfiltered average; capacitor DC is Vdc_est. When ΔV ≥ Vpeak, model_validity.valid is false and Vdc_est / Vmin are null; the raw extrapolation is only in raw_model_extrapolation.

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Frequently asked questions

Key distinctions behind the calculation.

Is 230 VAC full-wave rectified equal to 207 VDC?

No. 207 V is the average of the unfiltered full-wave pulsed sine. With a reservoir capacitor the DC bus sits near peak (about 325 V for 230 VAC), minus diode drop and half the ripple. Those are two different circuit models.

What does Average rectified voltage mean?

It is the time-average of the ideal rectified sine with no filter capacitor: 2Vpeak/π (full-wave) or Vpeak/π (half-wave). It is not the voltage you measure across a bulk capacitor.

When should I include the smoothing capacitor?

When you have both load current and C, and you want ΔV, estimated VDC, Vmax, and Vmin. The engine requires I and C together. If estimated ripple is ≥ Vpeak, Vdc_est and Vmin are withheld — the continuous-discharge model is outside its valid range.