Generator efficiency

[Jk1996]

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]

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

xnuke
"Live and act within the limit of your knowledge and keep expanding it to the limit of your life." Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.
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[LittleInch]

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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Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[FacEngrPE]

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]

Thank you guys!!!