When comparing an automotive alternator to a bicycle generator, sure, no comparison. Bicycle generators are of cheap manufacture, with poor quality magnets and other cheap componentry. They are not designed for longevity, and are too low of a power capacity to be of any use. I would be suprised if you get 60% efficiency out of one.
To do a real comparison, compare an automotive alternator to a Lynch type PM motor/generator of similar size, like the Briggs & Stratton Etek. They are so much closer in scale for power level and size. 90%+ peak efficiency, with the average better than 85%. We don't need to be stuck with the poor efficiency of archaic magnets or electromagnets (field coils) when there are supermagnets available.
The poor reputation of PM motors/generators is due to the limited RPM range where efficiency is highest. The Lynch motor (pancake design) did away with that limitation, and made use of the modern supermagnets.
BobStatistics: Posted by Bob Boyce — Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:01 pm
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