Search the net for 3 phase generators and converters. There are a lot of very ingenious folks rolling their own three phase power to run heavy bargain equipment. Not exactly what you want, but you will probably find more information than you need! John Ferrell 6241 Phillippi Rd Julian NC 27283 Phone: (336)685-9606 Dixie Competition Products NSRCA 479 AMA 4190 W8CCW "My Competition is Not My Enemy" ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary Neal" To: Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2002 7:58 AM Subject: [EE]:3 phase motor as a generator? > Guys, > > I've got an old 3-phase 230/460V, 3/4hp electric motor that I was thinking > about using for a generator (maybe as part of a windmill). > > Here's all the details I know: > > 9 lead wires > Seems to be a wye configuration > When spinning the shaft at 900rpm, get ~10V line-line on the outputs > The Rotor has no wire connections or slip rings or anything. Just a bunch > of laminated plates that spin on bearings (not magnetic) > Rated speed is something like 1170rpm > Really very basic motor > > So, I've got a couple questions: > > 1. What "type" of motor is this? It's sad to say, but I went through an > entire Mechanical Engineering curriculum, and they taught us all about the > "theory" of electric motors, but never taught us how to identify the darn > things. Is it induction, synchronous, ...? How does it work? > > 2. If I end up using it in a windmill, I'd like to run it at low speeds > (couple hundred rpm) and charge a 12V battery. Is there an easy way to get > higher V/rpm? > > 3. I've seen discussions about needing to have "running" capacitors or be > hooked to the grid and then spin the motor slightly faster than its rated > speed to generate electricity. This was all over my head and I was getting > disappointed until I just took a couple LEDs and hooked them across the > leads, spun the shaft, taaadaaaa, they lit up = electricity out. So, > what's the deal with that? > > Thanks, > > Gary > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: > [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads