How to build a simple electric generator?
Vicfan, If this is for a science project then get the book out and play away. Rub a balloon on your shirt and you have a generator. If you want to make a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy that you can use then forget it. You will need a precision machine shop and a lot of money. And the cost of operating your new generator is about 10 times what you buy it from the electric company. If you want backup power when a storm comes by there are great machines readily available. Visit the Generac website. Sorry — no simple electric generators exist.
If you just want to demonstrate the principle, wrap a coil of fine enamel-insulated wire around the arms of a U-bolt clamped to a piece of wood. Arrange a bar magnet on a shaft that will spin within the arms of the U. An electric current will be generated across the ends of the coil when you spin the shaft with your fingers. That’s about as simple as you can get. If you’re looking for something more practical, perhaps you would post your question again with some details as to what you hope to do with the generator once you have it built.
