Introduction: How to Make : Simple Electric Generator
Yep that's right this is a simple electric generator. This is very educational to present how electric generators work and how we use it in our everyday lives. As an example i make a very simple one and i make this tutorial to have an idea on how to make your own DIY of this. (Maybe Later/after understanding you may have a better approach to build this. or have better applications.) But for now we must understand how Electrical generators Work.
Well this project are made of some used stuff and Mix all that together to create this product/project. Yep a Lifehack.. sort of..
Watch my YouTube Video Build Process Here --- >
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YouTube Channel Link :
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy8LeRu6Awo2qnERW...
Step 1: How Electrical Generators Work and Types of Electrical Generators
Electrical Generators work in a simple manner is to produce electricity.
Electrical Generators may come in two outputs: AC or DC.
Electrical Generators work when a Mechanical input is applied through the machine and outputs an Electrical Energy. (may vary like solar panels uses only light)
Types of Electrical Generators :
Permanent Magnet Generators. -- (This simple instructable is a Permanent magnet type Gen. DC TYPE)
Permanent Magnet DC Generators
Permanent Magnet AC Generators
Self-Excited Generators.(AC and DC) -- (Search for that.)
Many Types -- (Again infinity Search search search...... )
So How? :
We need first a raw input.
Raw input can be a mechanical machine.. Simply a hand as a observational example here.
It can be in our environment: Like Water, Fire, Wind, (can be a solid matter like falling rock/s as an potential to kinetic energy). Well We use both these energy to produce a usable energy.
Or it can be a Nuclear. which is beyond in this project/experiment.
EVEN EARTHS HEATTTTTTTTT (GEOTHERMAL ENERGY).
A raw Mechanical input can be directly coupled to electrical generator. But as you may observe, Electrical generators may work on physical conditions that may require a both high or low RPM to produce a usable energy, it depends on how designers design what the machine will produce. It can be A low RPM generator but can produce a high voltage and low current, It can be a high RPM generator that produce a low voltage and high current, It can be Both Voltage and current to produce High outputs but in low RPM and Vice-Versa.
A good Example is a Wind Turbine Generator.
Wind turbine generators are designed to turn the blades even if the wind is not that moderate or even it can turn the blades even its not windy. You may always notice that wind turbines if you can observe closely. Yep the blades are faster in rotating speed because it is the farthest in the center, but in the center of those rotating blades you seem that the center is not rotating that much. But How Wind Generators produce electricity even it is not rotating that much??.
Well The answer isMechanical Transmission. Just like a vehicle. Car as a Vehicle have a mechanical transmission, You notice that Car Engines can produce High RPM but we only need to provide in our wheels to output at a certain/specific rotational speed so we designed the transmission to convert mechanical rotational speed at a certain level. But in a Wind turbine is a reverse analogy in a car transmission. We Convert Low RPM to HIGH RPM why? Simply because Nowadays electrical generators require a high RPM to produce a certain/specific amount of usable energy. or in the other hand Because of the Establishment how or what is the electrical standards already established. That's why many Countries have different Voltage and Current outputs.
After the Mechanical Transmission:
After the mechanical Transmission is the electrical generator (coupled already in the mechanical transmission. )
In this instructable you see that i have a larger diameter of wheel (Compact disk) and a Smaller Diameter of pulley wheel coupled in the DC Motor. and Coupled together by a rubber band. Well this simple project has application of mechanical transmission. Well We convert a low RPM to High RPM.
1 turn of the large wheel will turn the smaller wheel 15 times. (As a approximation)
1:15 or more. (More Is Better) because we can create a steady source output of electricity.
In my Volt-Meter.. it can produce beyond 5 volts at a steady rotation.
(By the way DC motor can became a DC generator. in this case a Radio Cassette motor. It may vary on how you pick the motor/generator, other motors can be easily play (Mechanical to Electrical)
other motors may require a conversion before it became a generator.)
After the Generation of Electricity: (Alternating Current)
Here comes the play of distributing the generated electricity.
Generator ---> Step up-Transformer ---> Transmission Tower Lines ---> Substation ---> Step Down Transformer ---> Distribution pole lines ---> Another StepDown Transformer and ---> to the homes.