Any difference between electric motor & electric generator?

Question

I'd like to build a simple electric generator. Can I just use any electric motor, and reverse the process by providing the spinning action myself to produce electric current?

Answer 1

Theoretically : A motor when given power supply , converts it into mechanical energy (by rotation)

And When
A motor is given mechanical energy (by rotating shaft ) , it will produce electrical energy


This is practically true for permanent , external field excited motors , ie (the ones that have permanent magnets )

If you have motor with stator that is Electromagnet and turns Magnetic only on applying the electric power supply , then in motor rotation does not produce electric power , or the motor does not acts as generator when operated by rotating its shaft


(ABX)

Answer 2

Build Generator From Electric Motor

Answer 3

With a permanent magnet DC motor (like from a battery powered toy) this will work fine. An AC motor is less likely to work, in normal operation the magnetic field that makes an AC motor work is produced by the electricity going into it, so if no power is going into it there is no magnetic filed to make it act as a generator, actually there might be a little stray magnetism or there are methods of getting it started with a pulse of external power, but the PM DC motor will be easiest
.
In short,yes you can use a motor for a generator but not "just any motor"

Answer 4

The definition of MOTOR is that electric power is the input and mechanical power (often in the form of rotational motion) is the output. Electric energy is required by both the stationary and rotating fields of the machine; a DC or Synchronous machine has the fields separately excited (usually), while a ' squirrel cage' Induction machine relies on the magetizing force in the airgap to induce power in the rotor based on relative motion between the windings. A Permanent magnet machine only has power applied to one winding; the 'permanent magnet' is just that, always available for field strength.

The definition of GENERATOR is basically that power flows in the opposite direction; this means mechanical power input and electrical power output.

For a given strength of magnetic field, a generator will generate a lower voltage than the motor operates at. This is because the motor has an outside source to supply the copper losses in the windings, while a generator has to overcome the losses on its own.

So ... can you use a motor as a generator and vice versa? Yes, if you understand the principles (and limitations) involved.

Answer 5

well yes and no depending on what the application is for instance , older motor vehicles that used a real generator it charged the battery, and one way you could tell if you had crossed the wires the generator becomes a motor and drain the battery, so in this case the same , just depends what you want to drive or power up , then you would build it accordingly, all generators are service duty motors the all turn at 3,600 rpm's and must maintain that speed to produce electric from a generator motor and you need a voltage regulator to control, the voltage and well it works just like an alternator on a car inside its A/C and a series of diodes will not the the voltage comeback so it turns it into a high voltage D/C, I really don't know where you going with this cause anywhere on the net you can get a schematic to build one you just need to know what the heck your going to run or drive (or power) from it so you need to know watts , Amps X Volts = Watts , for instance
60 watt light bulb, that's 110 VAC X 60 watts = ? watts needed to run the bulb and don't forget start up surge watts must be greater like for a air-conditioning unit or refrigerator and so on it must be over rated for start so building one is the least of the problem, good luck

Answer 6

Like all of the people above me said, in theory, the answer is yes, BUT most electrical machines are usually optimized to function in either generator mode or motor mode exclusively.

Think of the example of a microphone (generator) and headphones (speaker -- motor). You can plug your headphones into the "mic" input and use them as a microphone, but you might have to shout. Likewise, if you plug a microphone into a speaker output, the microphone will make some noise, but it will probably burn out.

Answer 7

The only thing to be careful of is how the bushes are located. If you use an electric motor the bushes are probably angled into the direction of rotation, if you reversed the direction of rotation you will have rapid wear on the bushes.

Answer 8

The ac can be converted to dc
with a simple rectifier.

I don't know how much current you will get from
using motors a generators.you will need something
to keep the motor moving

Answer 9

easiest answer yes. If you use an AC motor youll get AC current. If you use a DC motor youll get DC current