Comparison of RC and RL Loads

Author: E.E. Kimberly

When a full-wave rectifier load consists of resistance and capacitance in parallel, the direct voltage available across the load is the maximum value of the applied voltage less that which occurs because of loss of condenser charge between charging impulses. When the load consists of resistance and inductance in series, the direct voltage available (across R) is only 0.636 times the maximum value of applied voltage.

The RC load, while making a relatively large voltage available when no current is drawn from it, does lose voltage when a current is taken from it because of draining of charge from the condenser. The RL load, in comparison, maintains its no-load voltage value across R more closely when current is drawn from terminals A and B.