what is the difference between a generator and a electric motor? And can one be turned into the other?

Question

how can a electric motor be turned into a generator?

Answer 1

The only difference is how they are used -- they're basically the same gadget.

If you attach a DC motor to a battery, the motor turns.

If you replace the battery with an ammeter (which measures electrical current), and then turn the motor by hand (or with wind, running water, or whatever), the needle of the ammeter will bounce, because turning the motor generates current.

Answer 2

A generator is a rotating coil in a magnetic field. The rotation causes a generation of current in the coil, which is harnessed as electricity.
An electric motor is electrical current supplied through a coil that rests in a magnetic field. The flow of electricity creates motion.

Basically, a motor and a generator are the same thing. The difference is the mode of force applied to the magnetic field (motion or current) and the desired result (produce electricity or motion).

To turn a motor into a generator, basically all you have to do is remove the power source, and provide a means of rotational motion.

Answer 3

With an enduring magnet DC motor (like from a battery powered toy) this may artwork positive. An AC motor is way less in all probability to artwork, in time-honored operation the magnetic field that makes an AC motor artwork is produced through the electrical energy going into it, so if no capacity is going into it there is not any magnetic filed to make it act as a generator, really there might want to be a touch stray magnetism or there are ways of having it began with a pulse of exterior capacity, besides the indisputable fact that the PM DC motor will be simplest . in short,sure you should use a motor for a generator yet not "merely any motor"

Answer 4

We can look at an example of this in some turbo-prop aircraft. I know the Pratt and Whitney PT-6 in certain aircraft does utilize this. The Starter (which is obviously an electric motor) turns the engine when power is applied to it, and once the engine is running the Electric Starter Motor doubles as a generator.

Answer 5

Just supply it with motive power and it becomes a generator. Some motors use electromagnets on both sides and need electric power to get them to work. Car alternators use this technique. The battery supplies the power to the field until the alternator is generating sufficient power to maintain the field. If you run an alternator without priming the field it does not produce sufficient current to work.

Answer 6

There really isn't much difference between a dc motor and a dc generator. If you want to use the motor as a generator, just spin the shaft. But they're not terribly efficient.


Doug