OT: Generators in series?

So East, North, West, South, back to east.

As the stick goes up the voltage rises to 120V. Then the stick goes down to west and zero volts.
Now the stick goes to south or -120V. Then it comes up to east at 0V.

If one generator is at north and the other is at south they cancel each other out. If both are at north at the same time 120V + 120V is 240V.

I suspect if you were good at motor/generators you could make it work.

I don't think you can stack inputs and of generators or alternators.

Output voltage is controlled by input votage to the fields.

If you excite the fields with 12v then 12v will be your output.

If you excite the fields with 24v then 24v will be the output voltage.

The generator/alternator is rated for so many watts output regulardless of the voltage. As the voltage is increased the output wattage is decreased.

The voltage regulator controls the wattage ouput.

After the voltage is ouput, like on a terminal block, then you could series the voltage for a total voltage gain and a current gain if battery's were used.

I series three 115vac- 12vdc transformer battery chargers for a 36vdc output for my golf cart battery charging. Here my amp charging rate is the lowest amperage charging rate of the smallest 12vdc charger or 6amps. I'm useing one 10amp, one 50amp and one 6amp battery charger and output is 40v@6amps at maximum charging.

T_Bone

However as one of the posts below suggests at least one of the alternators would have to be isolated from ground. Or you could use “isolated ground” type alternators and simply connect the outputs in series. (On isolated ground units the frame is not grounded. Rather there are separate “+” and “-“ output terminals. Heavy truck alternators are often this type...)

In addition you would need to wire the alternator fields in series, then supply the fields from a single regulator calibrated for the combined output voltage. Otherwise individual regulators on each alternator will likely go unstable (oscillate) and be unable to provide control.

Bottom line is it will probably easier to install a single alternator with the output voltage you desire.

Might take a little experimentation to make it work.

Gerald J.

Let say you have 2 cars(12 volts negative ground) side by side but not in contact; now you connect the negative lead of the second car to the positive lead of the first car, you can measure 24 volts between the negative lead of the first car and the positive lead of the second car; now if you link both chassis together, you get a nice spark- short circuit.

Not sure I explained clearly, but I am sure of the end result.
Rlach

Gerald J.