Good grief guys!!!
Why not employ a little technology. If you raise your generated AC voltage as high as possible (within reason) you will reduce the line current to its lowest. Then, for the greatest efficiency, directly rectify and filter the AC. (Read, no transformer.) This will produce a DC voltage that is about 1.414 times the RMS AC voltage. Then, shove that into a switching regulator/charger that will run in the range of 90% efficiency. Somehow, I don't think any solution presented or BANTERED so far can achieve a final "at the battery" efficiency of 85% or greater (figuring 5% or less for line loss based on using smaller wire than discussed here). You challenge is to find a DC:DC regulator, another term for switching regulator, that can handle the input voltage you might wind up with. As an example though, virtually every PC uses this technology. Rectify the line voltage, convert it to really high frequency AC, step it down, rectify and re-filter, and send a feedback signal to the input for output control. Many of the newer high efficiency solar panel chargers work on this principle as well. That way you don't blow off the difference between the input and output voltages of the regulator as waste heat. Yes, guys, simple has some elegance, but technology brings efficient results! Jay Turkovsky ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> In low income neighborhoods, 84% do not own computers. At Network for Good, help bridge the Digital Divide! http://us.click.yahoo.com/EA3HyD/3MnJAA/79vVAA/FGYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Does your company feature in the microhydro business directory at http://microhydropower.net/directory ? If not, please register free of charge and be exposed to the microhydro community world wide! NOTE: The advertisements in this email are added by Yahoogroups who provides us with free email group services. The microhydro-group does not endorse products or support the advertisements in any way. More information on micro hydropower at http://microhydropower.net To unsubscribe: send empty message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/microhydro/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
