Buck converter for small wind turbine project using a transistor?

[Burnit0017]

Hi, I am working on a buck converter for a permanent magnet alternator, PMA, that will charge a 12 volt battery bank. Most of the information I have found deals using a power MOSFET.

Is there any reason a power transistor could not used, like a 2N3055?
The collector could be attached to the +12 terminal of the battery.
A control circuit would monitor the input voltage from the PMA and enable a oscillator to drive the base until Vin is less than the battery voltage.

If it is possible could the 2N3055 be turned on using a cmos output?

Comments welcome. 

[kam]

nice project you are building here.

MOSFETS are controlled by voltage and transistors by current, so probably i won't work by simply changing to transistor. MOSFETs are prefered for high power applications due to their better thermal stability... that is why you find mainly mosfets.