| How Does a Generator Work? - The answer to | | | | the electricity comes from your electrical utility |
| that question starts with, "It depends!" It depends | | | | company, into your house and then directly to the |
| on the type of generator you're speaking about. | | | | outlet that you're plugged into and that electricity |
| There are numerous types of generators. There | | | | gets the fan going or whatever "Thing a Ma Jig" |
| are: Propane Generators, Diesel Generators, Wind | | | | you've plugged into the outlet. |
| Generators, Gas Generators, Natural Gas | | | | Generators that produce electricity operate on |
| Generators and even Bio-Fuel Generators. Of | | | | that same principle, just in reverse! Since I used a |
| course, there are probably some sources of | | | | fan as an example, I'm going to spin things around |
| generator power that I've missed. | | | | and use a Wind Generator to explain this principle. |
| For example, I have a friend who is an engineer, | | | | This time we're going to take the same fan and |
| inventor and perpetual tinker guru. He invented a | | | | place it outside, not to provide a breeze, but to |
| magnetic gizmo generator that has been providing | | | | receive a breeze. As the wind blows, the blades |
| the electricity for his house for three years now. | | | | on the fan turn. Attached to the blades is a shaft |
| He's been off the grid, for over 38 months and | | | | that goes into an electric generator motor. As this |
| counting. As they say, "brilliant!" I can't wait until he | | | | shaft attached to the motor turns, it produces |
| decides to release this invention to the public at | | | | electricity. Depending on the size of the generator, |
| large. Just think, no more monthly electric bills! Can | | | | it may have just enough power to accommodate |
| you say, "Yippee ki yea!" Ok, let's get back to | | | | a small electric saw. Or, it can produce enough |
| answering your question, "How does a generator | | | | power to light up an entire hospital! |
| work?" | | | | Your question was, "How does a generator |
| Just Think of a Generator As Electricity In | | | | work?" Well there's your answer; in it's simplistic |
| Reverse, Huh? - Picture yourself plugging the cord | | | | form, You'll need to perform a search on the |
| of a fan into a 120 volt AC power outlet and then | | | | Internet, if you want to get more technical |
| you hit the "On" button and bod-a-bing, you've got | | | | questions answered such as, "What is the principle |
| a nice breeze of air blowing on you from the fan. | | | | of electromagnetic induction? How does a |
| That electric motor in the fan is put to work due | | | | generator convert mechanical energy into |
| to the electricity causing it to turn. In a nutshell, | | | | electrical energy? |