For about forever, I have been needing a decently large rectifier for my windmill projects. In the past, I have stripped every one I could find out of every scrap piece of electronics in my house. Unfortunately, the largest I could find was probably only good for 2-5 amps.
So I happened to be at the local Radio Shack and I found a 50V 25amp Bridge Rectifier. It says on the back that it drops the voltage by 1.7 volts. My plans are to use it first on my treadmill windmill. I was wondering if anyone has any words of advice so I don't burnout my big investment (all of $3.29 ). It has an aluminum back, so maybe it is meant to be heat-sinked. I plan on using it as a diode, not a bridge rectifier for the time being.
So, if the there is a no load voltage of say 70v, would it hurt it?
And, what do you think the 25 amp rating is good for (10 seconds, a minute?).
I imagine that 1.7 volts * the amps is going to turn into heat.