On 05/05/2021 10:07 AM, Grant Taylor via cctalk wrote:
I have found the Motor Generator thread to be fascinating
and enlightening. But it has made many a reference to the
400 Hz or other frequency much higher than mains line
frequency. Despite the comments about the frequency, I'm
still confused as to why the higher than mains frequency
was used.
Were the higher frequencies used because it directly
effected the amount of time / duration in (fractions of)
seconds between peaks of rectified (but not yet smoothed)
power?
It made it possible for transformers, inductors and
capacitors to be much smaller. The 2500 Hz power supplies
in the 360's delivered 40 A at 6 V, and used inductor-input
filters and a final series-pass germanium transistor for
regulation. They were about the same size as a 6V 2 A
regulated power supply running on 60 Hz.
So, to an extent, the answer to your question is yes. But,
not exactly just that, because the size of the transformer
scaled inversely with frequency.
Jon
