With these self-excited systems the main stator provides power via the automatic voltage regulator(AVR) to the exciter stator. The high efficiency semiconductors of the AVR ensure positive build up from initial low levels of residul voltage, The exciter rotor output is fed to the main rotor through a three phase full wave bridge rectifier. The rectifier is protected by a surge suppressor against surges caused, for example, by short circuit or out-of-phase paralleling