Rectifier
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A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current, which periodically reverses direction, to direct current, which flows in only one direction.
A thyristor (silicon controlled rectifier) and associated mounting hardware. The heavy threaded stud attaches the device to a heatsink to dissipate heat.
Disassembled automobile alternator, showing the six diodes that comprise a full-wave three-phase bridge rectifier
A vibrator battery charger from 1922. It produced 6 A DC at 6 V to charge automobile batteries.
A small motor–generator set
Diode
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A diode is a two-terminal electronic component that conducts electric current primarily in one direction. It has low resistance in one direction and high resistance in the other.
Rectifier
…rectifiers take a number of forms, including vacuum tube diodes, wet chemical cells, mercury-arc valves, stacks of copper and selenium oxide plates, semiconductor diodes, silicon-controlled rectifiers and other silicon-based semiconductor switches. Historically, even synchronous electromechanical switches and motor–generator…
Close-up view of a silicon diode. The anode is on the right side; the cathode is on the left side (where it is marked with a black band). The square silicon crystal can be seen between the two leads.
A high power vacuum tube diode used in radio equipment as a rectifier
Various semiconductor diodes. Left: A four-diode bridge rectifier. Next to it is a 1N4148 signal diode. On the far right is a Zener diode. In most diodes, a white or black painted band identifies the cathode into which electrons will flow when the diode is conducting. Electron flow is the reverse of conventional current flow.
A vacuum tube containing two power diodes