What is a generator?

In electricity generation, a generator is a device that converts motive power (mechanical energy) into electrical power for use in an external circuit. Sources of mechanical energy include steam turbines, gas turbines, water turbines, internal combustion engines, wind turbines and even hand cranks. The first electromagnetic generator, the Faraday disk, was invented in 1831 by British scientist Michael Faraday. Generators provide nearly all of the power for electric power grids.

A generator is a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. They are usually referred to as electric generators. They usually have a dynamo that utilizes the Flemings left - and the right-hand principle of interaction between electric energy fields and magnetic energy fields to produce motion. A motor generator does the reverse by producing mechanical energy from electric energy.