Electric Generators

How do electric generators work and why are they important?

Electric generators are used to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, and they’re very helpful in providing us with energy whenever we need it. In this article, we’ll be discussing how exactly electric generators work, what they’re used for and why they’re so important to our modern lives.

Introduction to Generators

While many people think of battery-powered devices when it comes to electricity, there is more to it than that. In fact, an enormous amount of electricity is generated by a process called mechanical or mechanical-electrical energy conversion. To understand how electric generators work, you need to first know how mechanical energy works. Simply stated, mechanical energy refers to any kind of force put into motion.

The most well-known example of mechanical energy conversion is that of a car engine. The internal combustion engine combines fuel with air to create an explosion, which powers pistons. The movement of these pistons in turn creates mechanical energy that runs through a series of gears that converts some of its power into electrical energy. This electricity then travels through wires to reach every corner of your vehicle.

So how do electric generators work exactly? Essentially, an electrical generator produces power from kinetic energy, or what’s called rotational kinetic energy. It does so by using electromagnetic induction to convert mechanical motion into electricity in a process called Faraday's law (induction), named after Michael Faraday.

How does a generator produce electricity?

If you've ever looked at a power plant or a hydroelectric dam, you might be wondering how all that energy is produced. If there's one thing scientists know how to harness, it's kinetic energy—so it shouldn't be too surprising that most of our electricity comes from moving water. Large turbines spin in water channels or on riverbanks, converting that movement into alternating current (AC) electricity. The AC is then transformed into DC, which is sent over long distances through thin wires called transmission lines. At your home or business, transformers convert DC to 110-volt current so you can use it to power your lights, appliances, and electronics. But what if your building doesn't have access to an existing electrical grid?

 When you need electricity and don't have access to a power line, you can use a portable generator to produce electricity instead. Inside one of these portable machines is an engine that uses combustion—often from natural gas or propane—to spin a connected set of metal coils called an alternator. As it spins, it produces alternating current (AC) electricity, which is then transformed by another set of metal coils into direct current (DC) that's stored in batteries or sent out through a DC-to-AC inverter for your home's 110V appliances. Inverters can also be used to convert DC back into AC if your building already has access to grid power.

Different types of generators

The most common types of generators include internal combustion engines and wind turbines. In both cases, mechanical energy — whether from pistons moving up and down or wind rushing through blades — spins magnets inside a magnetized coil of wire, creating electricity. This has to happen with alternating current (AC), which produces varying levels of voltage every time it changes direction. Electric utilities use generators to make vast amounts of AC power at extremely high voltages. High-voltage transmission lines then carry AC power from these huge utility plants to substations where it's turned back into standard household voltages for home use. That process is described in our explainer about how electricity works.

 The two main generators used in electricity production today, internal combustion engines and wind turbines, operate on different principles. In an internal combustion engine, power is generated when a piston moves up and down in a cylinder filled with a flammable liquid such as gasoline. As it moves, it turns the crankshaft attached to magnets inside a coil of wire. The pistons keep moving even after you turn off your car so that energy keeps being produced for your use. But since cars don't move all the time, their engines generate only around 100 to 200 watts per minute or less on average.

Generators in everyday life

It’s no secret that electricity powers much of what we do in our everyday lives. How can you possibly navigate your house, school, or office without it? Instead of having to flip a light switch every time you need light, you can simply flick a switch. No longer do you have to climb a ladder to change out a light bulb; modern fixtures automatically sense when one is burnt out and replaces it with another. You don’t even have to get up off your couch to watch television if you live in an area where Direct TV offers its service. With these conveniences at our fingertips, how exactly did electricity become so ingrained in our daily life? The answer lies in one word: generators.

 Generators play an integral role in powering much of what we take for granted. Whether it’s a light, television, or elevator, all require electrical power to run. Without electricity, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy many of our modern-day conveniences. That being said, most people don’t understand how exactly generators work; after all, a generator seems like nothing more than a big hunk of metal sitting in your basement waiting for you to flip on a switch whenever you want to power.

Generator Maintenance Tips

Some people hear generators and immediately think of huge diesel generators used to power a factory or restaurant. These large units, while impressive, aren’t all that common anymore. Instead, smaller-sized gas-powered models that are more useful for powering an individual home or small office building make up most of today’s market. Although these machines don’t necessarily need much maintenance, there are some simple tasks you can perform to keep them humming along for years to come.

The most common thing people need to do with their generator changes its oil. If you read through your owner’s manual, it will tell you how often to change your oil based on your machine’s model, size, and use. If you want to be sure you’re not over-filling or under-filling your engine’s oil supply, it may be a good idea to buy a dipstick that lets you see exactly how much oil is in there at any given time. This way, if things get low, you can top off before anything bad happens.