The scope of generators in industry, electronics and everyday life is huge. An ordinary incandescent bulb and all household appliances in the apartment are powered by an alternator located at the power plant. It outputs power frequency and sinusoidal voltage. The TV uses a switching power supply that has a built-in alternator to power the electronics. There are also sawtooth and variable frequency generators, which are successfully used in laboratory settings, for training or in production. Without alternating current, it is difficult to imagine modern life.
A novice radio amateur should definitely have an alternator in his home laboratory. He will help in testing and tuning the assembled radio equipment. They are distinguished by the output frequency: low, medium and high. And also by the shape of the output signal: rectangular pulses, sawtooth, sinusoidal, etc. Output power typicallysmall, because it is intended for laboratory research, and not for work under load. But the amplitude can be adjusted in the range from zero to the nominal value. Of course, you can buy an alternator in the store. Made in-house, the laboratory generator is certified and safe to operate. This is the easiest way to replenish your laboratory with useful equipment.
But it's much more pleasant to make an alternator with your own hands, it will take a little time and bring valuable experience. The simplest device that will come in handy when setting up some circuits is a multivibrator. Its schematic diagram can be found on the web. Two transistors, two capacitors, variable and fixed resistors and a printed circuit board. You can make it during the day. The disadvantages of such a device are obvious, it can only produce rectangular pulses, and the frequency control range of such a device is not high. But, nevertheless, by experimenting with a multivibrator, you can set up a scheme for their serial connection and get, for example, a nightingale trill at the output. Pretty unusual, right? You will get a small doorbell designed and customized by your own hands or your own burglar alarm for the car.
More serious schemes will require more time and patience. For example, a three-phase alternator already has a more serious circuit. But, nevertheless, for setting up small circuits orTo create your own devices, you can use an ordinary car generator. Depending on the speed of rotation of the shaft, we will receive an alternating sinusoidal current of various frequencies.
Unusual application of such a generator in the conversion of wind energy into electrical energy. To do this, it is necessary to make blades on the shaft, usually there are three of them. This is because they are easier to balance. After that, we install the product on a rotating base, to which the stabilizer is attached. Using the rectifier part of the generator, you can get a constant voltage sufficient to recharge the battery.
