Savage Salvage

[z.monkey]

I got a small generator as salvage, uh not working.

So, Hey lets see what make this thing tick...

Its a 2 phase alternator with 20 stator poles divided into four quadrants...

[FatBird]

Thank you for sharing your salvage photo results.

Do you see any Brushes & Slip Rings?  I ask because I would expect brushes to be used to control the V or current in that rotor winding, thus controling the output.

Thanks.

.

[z.monkey]

Its a brushless AC design.  I don't quite yet understand it completely.  There are two small magnets on the rotor cores, and the coils on the rotor rap back around, isolated by a 1.5 Kohm resistor.  It must have some hidden rectifier diodes to generate the exciter current.  I'z dunno right now...

[z.monkey]

Its a 2 phase alternator with 20 stator poles divided into four quadrants...

I was wrong about this, its 30 poles on the stator, which means its wired like a 3 phase alternator.  There are two windings that come out to the plug, and the third is connected to a 10 uF 350 Volt capacitor.  This may be the regulating device.  The current in the third winding flows until the cap is full, then restricts flux on the other windings because the current is not flowing in the third winding.

I can't believe they made is so cheap.  An equivalent on at Harbor Freight is on sale for $119...

http://www.harborfreight.com/800-rated-watts-900-max-watts-portable-generator-66619.html

And that comes with a stinky 2 HP gas engine...

Just gimme the alternator, keep the stinky gas engine...

[FatBird]

It's amazing that they can sell them so cheap & still make a profit.  LOL