Text: Any system for rectifying or changing alternating currents to pulsating direct currents, wherein only half of the full alternating current wave is used. Essentially such a device is a uni-directional conductor, permitting current to pass in one direction only and submerging or blotting out the surges in the opposite direction. A typical example of a half wave rectifier is the crystal detector used in simple receiving circuits. Here the nature of the crystal is such that the currents are permitted to pass only in one direction. In half wave rectifiers used for charging storage batteries the effect is much the same. Where tubes such as the Tungar or Rectigon are employed, one tube is more commonly used, allowing the current to flow in one direction but submerging half of each cycle.

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