What is stopping the batterie from powering an electric generator when the electric generator creates the powe

Question

Power is the last word? Please can someone explain Thanks

Answer 1

In one word efficiency.  Assume that a battery supplies input power P.  The generator has an efficiency E, and an output power of O.

If P=100 units of power, E=10% (btw record high is 22%) then

O = P x E = 100 x 10% = 100 x 0.10 = 10 units of power.

This means you will have to drain 10 batteries just to recharge 1 battery.  In terms of simplified money,  think of us having to spend 10 dollars just to make 1 dollar.

Answer 2

It comes down to generator design (electric motor design).  Many are simply designed to operate on AC power (using or generating), so a motor designed to generate AC power will have to have a rectifier circuit to create DC.  Check out DC motor design and AC motor design.  For example, one AC motor design uses the slow change in the AC voltage to "rotate" the field inside the motor and thus rotate the spindle.  There is no reason a DC power source can't drive an AC motor. (Caveat: see below!!!)  You just can't directly plug them together. ;)

However, you need something to convert the DC power source into the motor/generator designed drive power/voltage AC source (usually listed on a plate on the side of the motor/generator).  Just the same way you need a converter from AC (rectifier) to use a DC motor/generator.  In a similar fashion, you need a transformer to step-up or step-down voltage from power source to generator.

Answer 3

The battery can not produce enough power to run the generator.  Generators are not efficient enough to be run off of normal batteries for any extended period of time.

Answer 4

If I understand the question correctly, what is being asked is why  the battery does not provide power to the electric generator WHILE the electric generator is running.

If that was the meaning of the question, it would probably be because the generator has a higher or equal potential (voltage) than the battery.  Supposing both the generator and battery are say for example 12V. there would be no difference in potential between the battery and the generator and thus no current, and no power since P=V^2 / R and V is really Vbat - Vgen so if Vbat and Vgen are 12V V=0

A simpler way to put it is imagine two pumps connected together through the same pipe but that are pushing in different directions.  If both pumps have the same pressure output, there will be no water flow in the pipe.

Maybe I am understanding the question wrong since all the other answers seem to talk about why a battery cannot power a generator.

Answer 5

the switch xD

a power generator generates power right? the battery is like the startup engine in a car. it just uses a little of it to get the thing going, then it shuts off the battery.

Answer 6

Ok back to basics to have a generator you need excitation and rotation, can be from a permanent magnet or from a coil with a current flowing through it... and rotation is usually from a desiel motor etc you can't run a motor purely off a battery as there are too many losses involved in the generting process..