......and I found out, sampling one leg, that I get more DC amps (out of all three rectifiers) than I get sampling that one leg on AC. It's a little hard to get exact numbers because the meter keeps varying slightly, but this is an approximation.
Why is this? I always assumed this was a one-to-one ratio.
Using the conventional method of measuring power output from a three phase generator, I'm seeing a "clamp" voltage of ~10.8 VAC between any two legs, and using my example of ~3.5 amps, this generator is putting out 37.8 watts. On any diesel-driven three-phase generator this is what it would be - RMS volts x amps = watts.
However, looking at the actual DC output going to the battery I'm seeing a "clamp" voltage of ~14 VDC and ~10 amps = ~140 watts.
Who ever can explain this to me wins the prize. I don't know what the prize is, but they win it.
This was supposed to go in Wind and I posted it to Newbies by accident, so reposting it here. Tom or somebody, if you could do me a favor and remove that posting from the Newbies section.....
--
Chris