Question : Problem: Homemade Silicon Diode Rectifier

I have built a circuit that uses a hand wound 1:1 isolation transformer (100 turns to 100 turns) and I am trying to convert it's secondary output from 3VAC (should be 50Hz) to DC using a bridge made from 1N4001 silicon diodes.

The problem I am having is that while the transformer is correctly producing the 3VAC, when I check the +/- output of the bridge, it gives a split second reading of 0.05 VDC and then goes to 0.

So, the question is why?  Right now I am using silicon 1N4001 rectifier diodes.  Should I be using germanium instead?  Am I missing something?

Answer : Problem: Homemade Silicon Diode Rectifier

Those diodes have a forward voltage drop of 1V, so that's where your output is going.  Germanium would only consume 20% of that.