generator or alternator ...what is it ?

bountyhunter wrote: Here's a ref explaining a DC generator:

farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/302l/lectures/node91.html

The Direct Current Generator
Most common electrical appliances (e.g., electric light-bulbs, and electric heating elements) work fine on AC electrical power. However, there are some situations in which DC power is preferable. For instance, small electric motors (e.g., those which power food mixers and vacuum cleaners) work very well on AC electricity, but very large electric motors (e.g., those which power subway trains) generally work much better on DC electricity. Let us investigate how DC electricity can be generated.

A simple DC generator consists of the same basic elements as a simple AC generator: i.e., a multi-turn coil rotating uniformly in a magnetic field. The main difference between a DC generator and an AC generator lies in the manner in which the rotating coil is connected to the external circuit containing the load. In an AC generator, both ends of the coil are connected to separate slip-rings which co-rotate with the coil, and are connected to the external circuit via wire brushes. In this manner, the emf ${\cal E}_{\rm ext}$ seen by the external circuit is always the same as the emf ${\cal E}$ generated around the rotating coil. In a DC generator, the two ends of the coil are attached to different halves of a single split-ring which co-rotates with the coil. The split-ring is connected to the external circuit by means of metal brushes--see Fig. 41. This combination of a rotating split-ring and stationary metal brushes is called a commutator. The purpose of the commutator is to ensure that the emf ${\cal E}_{\rm ext}$ seen by the external circuit is equal to the emf ${\cal E}$ generated around the rotating coil for half the rotation period, but is equal to minus this emf for the other half (since the connection between the external circuit and the rotating coil is reversed by the commutator every half-period of rotation). The positions of the metal brushes can be adjusted such that the connection between the rotating coil and the external circuit reverses whenever the emf ${\cal E}$ generated around the coil goes through zero. In this special case, the emf seen in the external circuit is simply:

loudhvx wrote: Bottom line is that there is no single definition for any of those terms. In order to describe the charging system, you have to describe the charging system with more than one word. Even Kawasaki can't agree with itself on the terms.

loudhvx wrote: Bottom line is that there is no single definition for any of those terms.

loudhvx wrote: Bottom line is that there is no single definition for any of those terms. In order to describe the charging system, you have to describe the charging system with more than one word. Even Kawasaki can't agree with itself on the terms.

gearheadmm wrote: Some of those manuals are made in England, The queens english not American english.
The terms may not be what your used to.
Pass me a spanner to beat out those gudgeon pins!.

gearheadmm wrote: Some of those manuals are made in England, The queens english not American english.
The terms may not be what your used to.
Pass me a spanner to beat out those gudgeon pins!

Rectifier is the same as a diode trio, and converts AC to DC, Alternator.
Generator output is DC and does not require rectification only regulation.

The Japanese version may be lost in translation.

steell wrote: I'm not sure it is possible to generate DC, I believe all generators/alternators generate AC, but that is then converted to DC in some situations.

Think about it, in every case you have a copper wire rotating through a magnetic field, so the voltage starts at zero, increases as the wire approaches the field, reaches peak in the middle, then decreases as it exits the field. And that's the definition of AC. In some generators a commentator is used to convert the AC to DC.

steell wrote: I'm not sure it is possible to generate DC, I believe all generators/alternators generate AC, but that is then converted to DC in some situations.

Think about it, in every case you have a copper wire rotating through a magnetic field, so the voltage starts at zero, increases as the wire approaches the field, reaches peak in the middle, then decreases as it exits the field. And that's the definition of AC. In some generators a commentator is used to convert the AC to DC.

gearheadmm wrote:

steell wrote: I'm not sure it is possible to generate DC, I believe all generators/alternators generate AC, but that is then converted to DC in some situations.

Think about it, in every case you have a copper wire rotating through a magnetic field, so the voltage starts at zero, increases as the wire approaches the field, reaches peak in the middle, then decreases as it exits the field. And that's the definition of AC. In some generators a commentator is used to convert the AC to DC.

True but DC generators operate on the positive side only,
And AC generators operate on the positive and negative side of a sign wave.
That's the difference.