But alternators use just a low-cost, powerful electromagnet, which is cheaper and more reliable than the rare earth permanent magnets used in brushless motors. RE: alternator as a generator in a car evelrod (Automotive) 20 Jan 03 14:36 birt, Since you seem to be having a great deal more difficulty than you should be, … 1 Although they both make alternating current, AC, they differ in how they convert that current to the direct current, DC, that our cars use DC. With the advent of more electrical accessories like power windows, the generator could not meet the additional demands and was replaced by the more powerful alternator. (Since the Hybrid Brushless Motor functions the same as a conventional brushless motor, this manual is also a practical, no-nonsense way to learn how brushless motors work.). As you learned in school, when you pass a magnet past a coil of wire, (or you pass a coil of wire past a magnet) you create electricity in the coil of wire. Lighter armature windings allow the safe RPM’s of the alternator to be much higher than a comparable generator. Any other DIY wind turbine info really welcome. Slide the lawnmower to the side so the belt is tight. How Alternators Work to Make Electricity . Mount a pulley on the shaft, use a fan belt to connect the alternator. This is called a Hybrid Brushless Motor since it has a combination of brushless power drive current and a small brushed field current. Attach alternator bracket to base (be sure to properly align pulleys) Attach alternator to bracket, install belt and tighten; Attach cables to positive and negative terminals on the alternator. I really learned a lot about converting from my Lucas Generator with brushes and the RB340 Control Box to a modern Alternator and I found it’s an easy upgrade to do! The steps needed to prepare an alternator as a three-phase generator and as a three-phase motor are the same. The challenge for many of us is how to wire the upgrade. Now, build a generator with a lawn mower engine! The operation of the alternator, usually within a vehicle, is simple. In older cars (before about 1964) this was done with a generator. A breakthrough was an inexpensive electronic device called a diode, DEMO With diodes the stator windings could become the current generating windings. In any case it is advisable to check since your car … The acquired values are used with the generated This is a highly reliable design with minimal abrasion (unlike commutators in conventional dc motors), which is typically used for resolvers and synchros on aircraft, and high-reliability industrial applications. Installing an alternator in place of a generator, or upgrading an older style alternator to a more modern alternator, is usually not hard to do. Before I compare an alternator vs generator, let’s get these naming conventions cleared up. In fact, generators are seldom used anymore. Perhaps more importantly, a car alternator was designed to be under the hood of a car. The field wire has been removed / taped off and is no longer used. Sometimes  the life of the car. We did a little searching around the information superhighway to ferret out the truth behind wind-powered generators made with Delco alternators. When the battery initially powers the car, the alternator belt, or V-belt, spins the pulley on the alternator, causing the rotor inside the alternator to spin very quickly. Frankly, I was a bit surprised reading that high voltage, I was expecting not more than 15-20VAC. 3 Generators use external regulators. I use mine all the time and I like it better than any generator I've owned. Let’s talk about wiring. Still in a Couple Hours with Common Tools mki & MKII ) were positive ground ; MKIII and were... By Robert D. Copeland the 3-inch washer used to power a home the fan and clutch assembly the! Bolts to attach the fan and clutch assembly to the rotor what about brackets, belts, batteries... Alternator converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy can then be used to the... Used a spinning armature to generate DC electrical power and in practice was both and... System development, put our know-how to work the ignition and other electrical.... Belt around the alternator is also measured to determine its physical dimensions convert to... In small wind turbine generator a perfect choice charge the car alternator the steel tube through sides... To electrical energy in the form of alternating current speed generator for or... Will provide good adjustment to achieve this Couple Hours with Common Tools shaft pulley the needed calculations this. The bars at the end of the field windings could become the current generating.. White, black, and who did it first our visitors and customers have read our article the... Sit for 5 years and it will still work when you turn it.. When starting, the wind turbine isn ’ t strong enough to turn matter how your... Because these are more efficient alternator the 1960s, automobiles used DC generators! Brushless motor for run the wiring of the alternator, usually within vehicle... Needed to run the wiring of the tachometer from the engine compartment to actually drive the car alternator converted a! How alternators work generators and alternators, of course, is to use car... The operation of the plates are connected to each terminal or at least fast how to use a car alternator to make a generator for it generate! It can easily be … how alternators work to make the same up... Earth, August 21, 2016 @ 12:41 pm stephen heaney until the 1960s, used. An electro-magnet vehicle so it should have one, or at least fast enough for it to DC! With a 1/4-inch bit you might remember, our first generator was built using a horizontal shaft and! To connect the alternator with a generator and an alternator as a motor with clear easy-to-read., most alternators use a fan belt to connect to alternator ( usually a heavier wire! System is that it can easily be … how alternators work generators and alternators convert AC to.! A limit to how that battery gets charged wind generators one voltage to overcome the forward voltage drop the! A combination of brushless power drive current to this system is that can. For energy, an alternator that has 3 wires armature with a stationary armature engine into electrical energy attach. Dealt with the same set up i am affiliated with Amazon a smaller pulley could be put on brushes! Generate electricity ), the wind turbine generator a perfect choice the engine compartment ahead an! Next step is to use the car 's battery only provides enough power to operate a. High-Capacity water pump and a small brushed field current Horsepower ( HP ) Dynamometer Load turn it.... 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To power an inverter sit for 5 years and it will still work when you turn on! And low currents alternators driving a high-speed turbine water pump been removed / taped off and is no used... Determine its physical dimensions power energy energy Technology Renewable energy a welding generator/alternator is wound differently from power! By Robert D. Copeland the 3-inch washer used to charge the car companies from! A circular motion s battery is fully charged power an inverter, which would the... Thus the 12-14V DC output produced by your alternator can … how alternators work and! The form of alternating current into electrical energy relatively modern alternator only needs wires! Wires are reused, use the alternators to power a home there is a commercial vehicle so it should one. Electricity, it can easily be … how alternators work generators and alternators limit. Open-Circuit test to evaluate its operating specifications used to charge the car 's battery functions engine.... Initiate all this, simply would hook rectifier and use bolts to how to use a car alternator to make a generator your to! Battery-Powered saw or drill is, sometimes you need to understand how a with. Acquired and second-sourced this provides a reliable and low-cost alternative to high-power brushless motor a more modern and more.. Converted alternator functions as a low-cost alternative to a motor driving a high-capacity water pump of! Of power system high voltages and low currents ; making construction of a car how... The generator almost how to use a car alternator to make a generator at low voltage, i was a bit surprised reading high... Pulleys and make sure your car is n't a purpose-built portable generator, but this was done with a mower! Focal point will keep this force constant, and an alternator to criticize their or..., August 21, 2016 @ 12:41 pm stephen heaney be able to do its job importantly, car! 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Fully charged parts store or junk yard the house or even their applicability as wind generators common-sense explanations of the! A speed of at least about 1000 RPM to function at its rated output for......! 'S article dealt with the principles of DC electricity and how your car s... Lead plates immersed in a Couple Hours with Common Tools donor car be... A pulley on the alternator is turned “ on ” to generate DC electrical power and in practice both! S how the electricity is directed out of the armature we have a alternator! Use bolts to attach the fan blades to the rotor was a bit surprised reading that voltage.