Generator efficiency

Jk1996 · Mar 23, 2022

Hi again guys I’m trying to get my head around the efficiency of generators. I’m looking at car alternator and can see this is an AC machine that then used a bridge rectifier to convert to DC this is where I’m thinking most of the efficiency is lost but want to understand in more depth?

xnuke · Mar 23, 2022

Efficiency determination will depend on where you draw your system boundaries.

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LittleInch · Mar 23, 2022

This is quite a good article and many good comments.

There is a lot more to it.

Mainly resistance at high current flows in the windings.

https://electronics.stackexchange.c...so-inneficient-relative-to-other-applications

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FacEngrPE · Mar 26, 2022

Car alternators switched from commutators to bridge rectifiers primary to eliminate the manufacturing cost of the commutator, There is not really an efficiency penalty, as the commutator / brush assembly creates about the same voltage drop as the bridge rectifier.

Jk1996 · Mar 26, 2022

Thank you guys!!!

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Generator efficiency

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