In a control device for controlling the output voltage of an ac magneto generator, a battery is connected through a rectifier with the output coil of the magneto generator and a lamp as a load is also connected through a switch with the output coil of the generator. A thyristor is connected between the terminals of the output coil in order to control the output voltage of the generator. The control signal applied to the control electrode of the thyristor is controlled by the voltage of the battery when the switch is open, and by the voltage across the lamp when the switch is closed.

To utilize the full power capacity of alternators 1, the alternator phases are connected through a transformer 9 to the rectifier 4 which provides rectified output to a battery 8. The transformer 9 has tapped windings, the taps being placed in circuit with the alternator-rectifier network in dependence on a speed control signal, for example derived from the frequency of the alternator, to effect tap changing and matching of the internal impedance of the alternator 1 to the battery 8/load L combination. In accordance with one feature (FIGS. 2, 3), the taps are on the primary, and a-c switches such as triacs 15 are selectively energized as the speed of the generator changes; in accordance with another embodiment (FIGS. 4, 5), the taps are on the secondary of the transformer, and unilaterally conductive switches, such as thyristors or SCRs 48, can be used, in parallel with the rectifier diodes 47 of the rectifying array, and selectively fired as a function of speed. A nominal 35 A output alternator thus can provide secondary output currents which, in one embodiment (FIG. 3) may go to over 80 A or, in the other (FIG. 5), to over 55 A, the closeness of matching and eventual output power depending on the voltage rating of the alternator and the number of taps on the transformer, and hence the degree of match obtainable.

A DC-link, variable speed constant frequency power system is provided with an auxiliary DC output. The system includes a variable speed generator for producing a DC voltage on a pair of DC-link conductors. When the generator is operated in its normal speed range, an inverter converts the DC voltage to a constant frequency AC voltage. When the generator is operated at a speed which is below its normal speed range or when an external auxiliary output command signal is received, the DC-link conductors are switched to an auxiliary output line and the DC-link voltage is regulated to maintain the desired auxiliary output voltage level.

A method and apparatus for controlling AC power from the stator of an alternator in which groups of windings have various numbers of turns and various numbers of poles per winding can be connected in series to achieve optimum power generation at one RPM and in parallel to achieve optimum power generation at another RPM.

A system and method to dynamically control a switching alternator is disclosed. A switching alternator system is disclosed that includes a plurality of windings configured to deliver an AC power and a plurality of switches configured to switch an electrical configuration of the plurality of windings. A processor is included that is programmed to control the plurality of switches to deliver a desired DC power.