Reddit reviews Fundamentals of Power Electronics

If you can get your hands on a copy of 'Fundamentals of Power Electronics' read chapter 12. The chapters on magnetics design are extremely helpful if/when you start winding your own transformers and inductors.

The "Bible" of power electronics is Fundamentals of Power Electronics and the included slides are here

> What do my motor controllers need to be rated for?

However much you plan to put through the motors. If you think the motors might stall, and you need the controller to survive that, then you need a controller that can supply the full stall current of the motor.

On the other hand, if you don't think you'll need that much current, and just want to protect the controller from frying due to over-current, then that's what fuses and/or circuit breakers are for. E.g.: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Push-Button-15-Amp-Circuit-Breaker-DC-AC-Circuit-/370274362810

> Before I used simply linear Voltage Regulators, that didn't work out so well and was very wasteful. What else could I use?

Sounds like you already know the answer: a switching regulator. In your case, a buck regulator because those are the ones that step down. There are a million trillion gazillion places that sell these, but I tend to recommend: http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/2110

> Is there a book or some other resource someone could point me to where I can find some how to deal with high currents?

The general term for when you are working with high voltages and/or current is "power electronics". I have no experience with it myself, but this book has been recommended by other people before: http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Power-Electronics-Second-Edition/dp/0792372700

I also recommend The Art of Electronics. Another great one is The Fundamentals of Power Electronics by Erickson and Maksimovic. If you have access to ieeexplore, Maksimovic has some awesome papers on there.

Thanks, that book looks like a very informative read! Although the price tag on it is a bit insane. I did stumble across the book on a cheaper website listed at $16,- and marked as shipping from India called "Abebooks".. hmm.