how can you make an electric motor into an electric generator?

Question

I'd like to learn what parts you need and how the proceedure goes to change one over. I heard about this proceedure and was curious of if it was possible. I'm a mechanic.

Answer 1

Turn the shaft and collect power from the windings. All you need is a source of power to turn the shaft.

Answer 2

As long as you have a DC motor or a synchronous motor, you can do so by reversing the roles - drive the shaft by an external agent, and tap off the generated power from the supply terminals of the "motor" - keep the field supply the same. I have no clue how you would tap into an induction generator (which would have to be supplied with ac power, AND driven at a speed faster than synchronous).

Answer 3

In a DC motor with a wound field you need to excite the field with rated voltage and rotate the armature to get voltage output at the brushes. By connecting the field in parallel to the armature in the correct polarity for given rotation it will self-excite through residual magnetism of the pole pieces without the need for an external source. Most DC motors can run as generators. You may need to remove or reverse the series field if one is used.

With a permanent magnet DC motor simply rotate the armature to get voltage at the brushes.
Various types of AC motors require different methods of excitation to generate voltage. Some require an existing source to excite the rotor fields and derive output from the stator. Others may use a rotating permanent magnet to initiate current flow then use that current to further excite the fields. Simply stated AC motors converted to generators will require some electronic support hardware.

Answer 4

Have you heard about TEC technology? In short it is a electronic heat pump. If one side hot and the other side is cold, then DC Current is generated. If we pump in DC Current inside, then one side will be hot and the other side will be cold.

Same goes to your electric motor. When current pump in the motor, and hence th shaft is turning. Now, instead of pumping in the current, you just turn the shaft manually (but have to be fast enough) You may get some reading from the electrical cable.

Answer 5

If it is a permanent magnet motor (starter, wiper, power window, etc.), all you have to do is spin the motor and hook the load up to the terminal(s) that usually feed the motor. It is then a generator.