Can a washing machine motor (I guess it to be an asynchronous motor) work as a generator?

Question

I've heard that it can't, unless an adequate capacitor is connected; is it true? And why?

Thanks!

Answer 1

It can't because, it has no permanent magnet.

Answer 2

"retired EE" is correct. ac is generated by a magnetic field rotating in a wire coil. because the induction motor does not have a permanent magnet in it, you can not simply turn the motor and have it make power. if you put a charge on one coil, this will make it an electromagnet. if you rotate it with the coil charged, it will be possible to generate ac power. this is how most of the alternators in  cars work. it makes ac power that is rectified into dc. it cant generate without having one of the coils energized by the battery. unfortunately most modern cars cant be push stated without a battery. of course the charge can be applied by a capacitor instead of a battery. in the long run it will probably be difficult and unreliable to use it as a generator. it would be fun to build it as an experiment. it is worth saying that it is highly unlikely that you will be able to generate more power with it than it would have consumed as a motor. it would not power very much. also you will need to devise some way to regulate how much voltage it produces.

the following is just a thought. i dont know if it will work!

i would think the easiest way to accomplish this would be to put something like a dc starter from a small lawnmower on the same shaft as the motor. once the motor is turning, use the solenoid on the starter to briefly engage the starter. as the starter turns it will produce dc power that can be used to energize one of the coils. once it is kick started, it should operate on its own.

Answer 3

Alternating currents normally flow in both the stator and the rotor of an induction motor. Once those currents are established, the motor can work as an induction generator, but it is difficult to get it the motor into operation as a generator. The easiest way is to use a three phase motor connected to an inverter and charged batteries. Once the induction generator is operating, it can supply power and charge the batteries, but the batteries must be initially charged by another source.

There is a way to use capacitors to get either a single phase or three phase induction motor started as an induction generator. It is not necessarily completely reliable or easy to do. Here are a couple of links that provide additional information.

http://www.qsl.net/ns8o/Induction_Genera...

http://www.mpoweruk.com/generators.htm

Answer 4

No.  The washing machine motor can supply the rotating power to the generator or alternator.