[Land-speed] non-LSR aircraft AC frequency

[neil at dbelltech.com]

Benn;

Aircraft used 400Hz AC power because far less iron was needed in the
magnetic cores of the transformers used in the electronics. This reduced the
size & weight of the transformers considerably. Some systems had 800 or 1200
Hz as well. 

Car alternators operate at relatively high frequency to reduce the iron,
too. The AC output is converted to DC by the built- in rectifiers.

The Navy didn't much care about the weight of shipboard equipment so they
used mostly 60Hz systems.

Regards, Neil   Tucson, AZ

-----Original Message-----
From: land-speed-bounces+neil=dbelltech.com at autox.team.net
[mailto:land-speed-bounces+neil=dbelltech.com at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of
Benn
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2008 8:52 AM
To: land-speed at autox.team.net
Subject: [Land-speed] non-LSR aircraft AC frequency

Hey gang, why have old (and maybe current) aircraft used 400 hz?  Are
alternators or DC-to-AC converters more efficient at this frequency than our
typical home 60 hz?
Benn
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