What is a generator or dynamo?
First off, the terms generator and dynamo refer to the same thing, but common usage tends to favour one term over the other depending where you live. The rest of this document will refer to this type of device as a generator. A bicycle generator is a mechanical device that generates electricity from the rotational energy acting upon it, typically from a bicycle wheel. One part of the generator rotates (the rotor) and the other part stays still (the stator). The rotor is made up of permanent magnets of some type and the stator is made up of coils of wire. The magnetic field of the turning rotor passes through the coils of the stator, inducing electricity which is then drawn off and used to power the light. There are several other FAQs that cover generators as well.
