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Old 03-03-2012, 02:47 PM   #8 (permalink)
pete c
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mort View Post
Hi pete c,
Using the alternator that comes on a car will be expensive. The alternator makes AC. To drive it as a motor requires an AC driver circuit capable of delivering a 3 phase ac signal at the right frequency and higher voltage than the stator would develop as a generator. It's a fairly simple motor controller if you design motors and are making thousands, but a one-off will be daunting. In addition car alternators are not designed to be efficient. Low cost and durability are more important. For this idea to really work you need a motor-generator designed for the job.

-mort
good points, mort. thanks. guess it pretty well rules out the alternator idea for low cost DIYers, unless maybe they are EEs with experience in AC controllers (not me).
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