Re: [T3] Glowing Generator Light

[Marlin Viss <mrlnvss@dordt.edu>]

Nathan Jacobsen wrote:

> This is interesting. Can anyone explain the electrical circuit and how the
> lamp lights without a ground?

Lets say your battery and generator are both working correctly.  (I'm going to
use 6V in my example, since the 6V crowd is vastly under-represented)  So at
the positive terminal of the battery, you have a voltage potential of 6V, and
at the positive terminal of the generator you also have a voltage potential of
6V.  Imagine connecting a light bulb between those two sources.  The voltage
difference across the light bulb would be 6V-6V=0 so no current would flow,
and the light bulb wouldn't light.

Now lets say your idle is too low and your belt too loose.  You turn on your
500 watt sapphire AM radio, putting a load on tø2ÆŸator.  Your generator
starts slipping and is now only putting out 3V.  That light you have between
the positive terminal of the battery and the positive terminal of the
generator now has a voltage potential of 6V-3V=3V across it, enough to make it
glow.

Now lets say your belt is shreaded and weak from being so loose, and one day
when you flip on your 500 Watt sapphire AM radio, the belt snaps.  Now your
generator isn't spinning at all, and you have a voltage potential of 6V-0V=6V
across that light, and it lights up nice and bright.

Marlin
65 Notch

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