Hi!
I'd like to ask a theoretical question: a magneto is substantially
an AC source + an inductance.

What happens if I short it (via a transistor)?

Is there power (heat!) produced during the short?

Is the magneto and/or the transistor really loaded?

e.g. if the transistor can withstand max 1A, I guess this limit
must not be passed, right?

I ask because the transistor seems cool although it's shorting a
power source.. so I don't understand if the inductance of the magneto
does effectively change things versus a more easily understandable
circuit without inductance.

i.e. I suspect that no power is consumed if I short the magneto, so
the components aren't stressed, but I'm not really sure.

Hence I ask the experts here. ;)

What I'd really like to do is to limit the tension on a capacitor
charged by a magneto, but I only have access to the magneto's wires,
and only in parallel. No exception to this is possible (e.g. to
interrupt the circuit in series).

So my idea was to monitor the tension on the magneto itself (as it
will be limited by the capacitor anyway, through the diode), and
once the maximum voltage that I want to allow is reached, to short
it (PIC software manages everything) and start monitoring current,
and release the short when current reachs zero (to avoid a boost
effect).

But will the shorting overstress the magneto?

Cheers,
Mario

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