Brake rectifiers are used wherever electrical machines have to stop quickly for safety reasons.
Rectifiers convert AC-voltage into DC-voltage, which is used to supply DC-operated electrical brake coils on motors. These activate or release mechanical brakes on the electric motors.
The brake rectifiers are supplied as a one-way or bridge rectifier.
Bridge rectifiers have an efficiency of approx. 90%, i.e. the outgoing direct voltage is approx. 90% of the incoming alternating voltage. With one-way rectifiers the efficiency is approx. 45%, i.e. the outgoing direct voltage is approx. 45% of the incoming alternating voltage.