To rectify a signal is to strip away its negative voltage swings, forcing the current to flow in only one direction. This is typically done using diodes arranged in half-wave or full-wave bridge configurations. Rectification is the first stage in a power supply, turning mains AC into a pulsing DC voltage that is later smoothed by capacitors.
Heard on the job
We need to rectify the 24-volt AC output from the transformer before feeding it to the regulator board.
Related terms
Diode
A two-terminal semiconductor component that restricts electrical current to flow in only one direction.
Power inverter
An electronic device or circuit that changes direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC).
SMPS
A switched-mode power supply uses high-frequency switching to efficiently convert electrical power.