Hello Oso,
Acc. to the www.balmar.net, seems that they have produce heavy duty alternator - 98 series (http://www.balmar.net/Page13-98seriesalts.html) which is brushless type. No brushes to wear is something, but it needs external max charge voltage regulator. Acc. to the regulator manual (http://www.balmar.net/PDF/ars-brs.pdf), page 8, when the voltage is bellow the 14 Vdc (adjustable), the regulator keeps a constant current output (adjustable acc. to the battery charging capabilities). When the voltage reaches 14Vdc, it switches to contant voltage mode (voltage regulated mode). Maybe this is good news. The bad news may come with the price offer. About how voltage regulator works, acc. to things listed on www.prestolite.com, these have to insure propper variable excitation for the alternator, in order for the output voltage to be kept stable, no matter the shaft speed or battery status (http://www.prestolite.com/literature/tech/alts/TSB-1022_Wiring_Diagrams_4800AA_Series.pdf). Of course, you cannot get more amps than the alternator provides at that speed. Acc. to what I understand from these manuals, this behaviour is apparently good for generating purposes. Using external rectifier diodes is a good choice. Perhaps brushless is also a good next step. However, I have not worked with my hands on any of these units. BR, Radu ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/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/
