Cyndi Nyberg 
Former EASA Technical Support Specialist 

There are a number of different types of DC generators: shunt, series and compound, each of which can be separately or self-excited. A DC generator is built and designed exactly the same as a DC motor, and can be run as such. Regardless of the type, there are a number of reasons why a generator won’t produce the correct voltage, or any voltage at all. 

Let’s start with the basics of how a DC generator works. When the armature is rotated, the magnetism from the fields produces a voltage in the armature. If the generator is self-excited, then the small voltage produced in the armature in turn is supplied back to the fields, which induces current in the fields. 

LOGIN TO VIEW AND DOWNLOAD THE ARTICLE