zero maintenance brushless alternator

[Peter Golledge]

Ahhh now that makes sense of some of the confused terminology I've seen on
Alternators!  This is why I love this list.. we've got an eclectic bunch of
folk with all sorts of expertise. :-)

On Sat, Oct 31, 2015 at 2:18 PM, Mike Arman <Armanmik at earthlink.net> wrote:

> From: "PSD" <psdooley at verizon.net>
>> To: <quattro at audifans.com>
>> Subject: RE: zero maintenance brushless alternator
>>
>
>
>> An alternator is an AC generator, hence the name.
>>
>
> Not exactly.
>
> Far as this design you mention, I thought all alternators were already
>> built
>> that way.
>>
>
> Unfortunately, no.
>
>   The slip ring providing current to the spinning bits is for the
>
>> exciter voltage, not the heavy load output voltage.
>>
>
> Correct.
>
> But you're close! ;-)
>
>
>
> Distinction between an AC generator and an alternator is that alternators
> have an electromagnet as the field and are almost always three phase (six
> diodes in the rectifier), and AC generators have a permanent magnet field
> and are almost always single phase (one, two [rarely] or four diodes in the
> rectifier).
>
>
> AC generators are found in small motorcycles, some lawn tractors, and so
> forth, the permanent magnet is mounted on the flywheel (or some similar
> part) and the coils are inside. A magneto is another flavor of AC
> generator. The rotating magnet on a magneto is on the inside of the coil,
> so it has to be spun faster to get any results - ask any magneto-equipped
> Harley rider - from a safe distance ;-)
>
> Alternators have an electromagnet for the field (the slip rings to
> spinning bits for the exciter voltage).
>
> The output is from the stator on both types, and the stator is the
> armature.
>
>
> The confusion arises when people think of DC generators where the rotor is
> the armature (makes the power) and the stator (stands still) is the field
> (makes magnetism). On alternators and AC generators, the field moves (ether
> permanent magnet or electromagnet) and the armature stands still.
>
> What usually happens is someone says "the part that moves" or "the part in
> the middle", and the answer is "yeah, the armature." It doesn't matter if
> it moves or not, the only thing that matters is what it does. If it makes
> magnetism, it is the field, if it outputs power, it is the armature. AC
> generator, DC generator, alternator, all the same.
>
> What makes it even more fun is that when you read the technical manuals
> which are translated from Japanese or German (or even between English
> English and Uhmurrican English), usually by people who can translate to
> some extent but whose technical knowledge isn't as good, you get statements
> like this one: "On assembly, make sure the gears are in harmony softly."
>
> That's from a 1965 Yamaha manual, after some thought, I realized they were
> telling me not to try to close the crankcase halves unless the gears were
> properly meshed. Cherry blossoms and kimonos optional . . .
>
> The point of the slip-ring-and-brushless alternator is that it doesn't
> need the slip rings and brushes to get power to the field ("exciter"), the
> rotating "claw plates" spin the magnetic field instead of requiring the
> actual field coil to rotate.
>
> With best regards,
>
> Mike Arman
>
> 50' by 90' hangar just FULL of electrical crap (and cars and motorcycles
> and airplanes and tube hifi gear and computer stuff, and I get away with it
> by telling my wife she has the world's largest shoe closet, second only to
> Imelda Marcos'.)
>
>
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