Bridge Rectifier

Turns an AC input into DC using four diodes in the classic bridge arrangement, then smooths it with a bulk capacitor. Both half-cycles of the AC waveform are routed the same way through the load, so you get full-wave rectification (not just half).

• D1–D4 — the bridge. On each half-cycle two diodes conduct: one steers the live phase up to V+, the other returns the opposite phase to ground. Swap which two each half-cycle and the output polarity stays fixed.
• C1 — the reservoir cap. The bridge output is bumpy (it pulses at twice the line frequency); C1 holds the voltage up between peaks. Bigger C → less ripple.

Exposes: ac1 / ac2 (the AC input, either way round) and vout / gnd (smoothed DC).

Each diode drops ~0.7 V, and two are always in the path — so Vout ≈ Vac_peak − 1.4 V. The cap is polarized: V+ must stay positive or it fails.