The full wave rectifier is a circuit which gives output rectified voltage corresponding to the both cycles (positive and negative) of input signal. A centre tap full wave rectifier circuit is as shown in the figure.
Working:
For Positive Cycle: In positive half cycle diode D1 gets forward and D2 gets reverse biased. Hence an output current across RL will be from X to Y.
For negative half cycle
In negative cycle, D1 gets reverse and D2 gets forward biased. It gives an output current through load resistance RL from X to Y.
The input and output waveform is shown in the figure.
