does an alternator have a rectifier in it? how can i change its output voltage into a pure sine @ 60hrz? i am working on a project and would like to have my alternator give me a constant ac voltage of 14 with a 60 hrz frequency. at speeds between 2000 to 5000 rpms. also @ 14volts does the current produced from the alternator solely depend on the load?
Does an alternator have a rectifier in it?It has a number of rectifiers. An alternator outputs typically three phase AC, and that is rectified by the rectifiers to produce DC to charge the battery.
To get 60 Hz, you will have to spin the alternator at exactly the correct speed. What that is I don't know, it will vary from model to model. Plus remove the diodes. But you will have 3 phases power, which you will have to convert to single phase, a difficult project. But perhaps you can find a single phase alternator??
Current will depend on the load as it does on any voltage source, however, you can adjust the output voltage by adjusting the current into the field winding.
Your best bet is to use the auto voltage regulator, leave the diodes in place, and let the alternator charge a battery. Use an inverter from the battery to generate AC at 60 Hz
.Does an alternator have a rectifier in it?This is just an extension on the last answer. Yes, an alternator has 3 phases before the rectifier. It will be next to impossible to find a single phase alternator. The only way to have a constant AC frequency over the full range of RPMs is to use the rectified (ie. DC) voltage at the output and then invert it to AC. DC to AC inverters are pretty involved and somewhat complicated to build, but thankfully they are easy to find and buy. The best thing to do would be to buy a basic 12V to 110V AC inverter. The 110V AC outputs are not a perfect sine wave, but it is close enough. Feed the 110V into a simple 8:1 transformer and then you will have ~14V AC @ 60hz. When you go to buy your transformer, a 110V - 12V would probably be good enough although it isn't quite 8:1.
Good luck!Does an alternator have a rectifier in it?I believe you need a generator. I may get corrected, but I believe the alternator is a device that makes DC and the generator is a device that makes AC.
In older vehicles they use to have generators in them, and then they ran them through a regulator or rectifier to produce the DC needed to charge the battery.
So to answer the question, Yes a alternator does have a rectifier in itDoes an alternator have a rectifier in it?You have sufficient information scattered amongst the various respondents to satisfactorily answer your question.
I should like to comment on IRUNULTRAS effort.
He is confused.
The word 'generator' is a generic name for a machine, rotary in this case, which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
So, a generator provides an electric current. Without further information that's all we can say about it.
There are two types of generator.
One of them is called a dynamo and produces d.c.
The other is called an alternator and produces a.c.
Does an alternator have a rectifier in it?To add a little more to the two good answers that you have, the frequency of the voltage generated by an alternator is given by frequency(Hz) = RPM X p / 120 where p is the number of poles. The number of poles is an even number and is most likely 2, 4 or 6. For 60 Hz, the speed could be 3600, 1800, 1200 or less. It can not be more than 3600.
