can someone please explain to me what half bridge and full bridge drivers are and how they work? are they related to an H-bridge? TY

 

They are not related to a H-bridge.

A few wikipedia articles ought to assist you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_rectifier
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rectifier

Essentially a full wave rectifier converts AC to DC with ripple.
A half wave rectifier does the same, but it only conducts during the positive or negative half-cycle of the AC so you get DC with a LOT more ripple. You will only see half wave rectifiers in low power equipment.

 

For Drivers the Half Bridge using BJT is typically an NPN and PNP pair set up as a followers with the load like a speaker connected between their emitters and ground.

For a Full Bridge the load is connected between two half bridges driven in opposite phases.

So the Full Bridge can get more signal from a given power supply voltage.

Half Bridge might go from +7 or -7 to ground when the Full Bridge is going from +7 to -7 and -7 to +7. 7 Volts output compared 14 volts.

 

sorry, i know what rectifiers are. what i meant was half and full bridge drivers, for example here:
http://stevehv.4hv.org/FBD.htm
he talks about a half bridge driver. ive also seen similar articles talking about full bridge. hope this clears things up. TY

 

i posted too soon. ty

 

H Bridge is driven in pulse mode where the normal bridges mentioned above are for analog voltage levels like audio.

The H bridge would not use the transistors as followers. With BJT the transistors in an H bridge would switch positions from the regular bridge and have their emitters connected to the rails, and the load between their collectors.

The H bridge is a more common way to control motors.

The H bridge circuit topology is actually derived from normal reversing DC motor wiring for a DPDT switch or relay, and is still used with these controls.

 

You're welcome.

 

Flyback transformer circuits can be dangerous.
The currents are normally low (1 amp at 30 Volts might transform to 1 ma at 30Kv) but beware of high voltage capacitors in the circuits.