How to Convert DC Motors to a Generator

The DC motor is a ready-made generator that will generate electricity. All that you have to do is turn the axle of the generator using an outside source of energy such as water, wind, or a bicycle. The problem is that many people don't know how to regulate the power that comes out of the battery into a usable source of energy.

Things You'll Need

• DC motor
• Batteries (sealed, lead acid, deep cycle)
• Rectifier
• Transformer
• Charge controller
• Inverter (if needed for AC appliances)

Instructions

1. Hook up the face of the generator (DC motor) onto a power source that will turn it. The power source could be a water wheel or a pair of blades that spins in the wind.

2. Make a motor current usable and turn the chaotic flow of a generator into a usable form. Let the flow of electricity from the generator charge the batteries and then to let the batteries run the devices to which they are attached.

3. Hook up a car's rectifier from an alternator to make sure that the current generated by the motor does not change direction and use up the power to make the motor to spin. This rectifier needs to be hooked up between the battery and the generator so that the current travels in one direction (towards charging the battery).

4. Add a transformer to the circuit after the batteries. Select a transformer so that the power you generate works with the items that you will plug in. Base the transformer selection on the input and output voltages to make the battery current into a voltage that is compatible with your appliance/equipment. Look at the combined voltage of the batteries. If there are four 12 volt batteries, select the input as 48 volts, for example. Select the output of the transformer based on the voltage needs of the appliance(s) that you will run. Many items used in cars are able to run off of a single 12 volt current. The output voltage would then be 12 volts. The transformer would be a 48 volt input with a 12 volt output.

Tips & Warnings

• Use an inverter to change the 12 volts of direct current into a 110 volt AC current used to power most things in your home. These typically just plug into a cigarette lighter and are available at general electronics stores. Use an inverter any time you run something that plugs into a wall outlet rather than a cigarette outlet in a car. Use a charge controller to make sure that the batteries do not reach a level of charge that will damage them. This is critical in all generators to prevent the generator from destroying the batteries every time the batteries are topped off.

• Never touch an electric circuit that is carrying or storing a charge. Never assume that the wires are safe just because they are off. Make sure that the electrical devices and wires are all properly housed and waterproofed. Make sure that there is no exposed wiring and consult an electrician before, during, and after installation of any generator or generator parts.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Risk Involved In Over-Charging Batteries
• Charge Controller Examples
• Why You Need Automatic Furling Wind Generators
• Super-Simple Generator
• Water Can Generator