Talk:Motor-generator

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Quote:

A motor-generator is physically different from a normal electric motor attached to a separate generator, in that both rotor coils of the motor and the generator are wound around a single rotor, and both coils share the same outer field coils or magnets. Typically the motor coils are driven from a commutator on one end of the shaft, when the generator coils output to another commutator on the other end of the shaft. The entire rotor and shaft assembly is only slightly larger in size than in a normal electric motor, and may not have any exposed drive shafts.

In my book the above definition is wrong. It describes a rotary transformer rather than a motor-generator. A motor-generator does consist of two separate machines which may be coupled by a shaft or even a V-belt. This may be another US/UK difference. Can anyone confirm this? Biscuittin 20:42, 15 June 2007 (UTC)

The difference being a rotary transformer doesn't affect the frequency of the electric power; a motor-generator can convert AC to DC, DC to AC, or change frequencies of AC. It's one form of rotary converter. --Wtshymanski 21:11, 15 June 2007 (UTC)