a segmented arc generator is adapted to convert mechanical power such as wind or water power into electrical power at a wide range of wind or shaft speeds . a rotor has a plurality of salient poles disposed about a periphery of a rotor ring . a stator has a stator ring disposed radially about and in close proximity to the rotor ring . the stator ring includes a plurality of stator coils wound on a ferromagnetic structure and having permanent magnets imbedded within the structure . relative motion between a rotor pole and a corresponding stator coil induces a coil voltage across that coil . a phase controlled converter in electrical communication with the stator coils rectifies the output voltage . a pulse width modulated inverter is in electrical communication with the phase controlled converter for converting the d . c . voltage output by the phase controlled converter to an a . c . voltage of controlled amplitude and phase relationship determined with respect to a voltage waveform present on a connected utility grid . a switching matrix selectively places the coils in series or parallel or a combination of series and parallel connections with respect to one another in response to control signals that are based on present operating conditions of the generator . a boost converter circuit provides and maintains a minimum d . c . voltage to the pulse width modulated inverter when the voltage induced in the coils falls below a threshold value .