I like to do like home project to boost my mind and I seem that ac motor can be used as a generator as long has you turn it the other way. I was a industrial ac motor and would like to see if I can use it for my project to built a generator
Basically any electric motor with permanent magnets can be used as generator. AC motors usually don't use permanent magnets so can't be used directly (by turning the shaft) to generate electricity.
Cannot ! AC motor produces Zero electricity.
An induction motor won't work well as a generator. A synchronous motor can be used as a generator.
The three contributors so far are incorrect, sorry guys. Rick is correct in stating theat a synchronous motor can be used as a generator. I suggest that you all Google 'Asynchronous Generators' or 'Induction Generators'. These take 2 main forms, although sub categories of each are available. I will consider only single phase, 3 phase devices are also very popular. Type 1, the stand alone device, use a cage induction motor, connect it to a suitable engine, connect a capacitor across the output terminals ( for 230v use a rule of thumb of 70 uF for each horsepower (750Watts) of the motor shaft power). Now drive the motor just above synchronous speed and watch the voltage rise at the terminals, connect a load not greater than the full load current of the motor and off you go. If it does not generate, stop the engine and connect 12v dc to the motor for a few seconds, disconnect the 12v and try again. The capacitor size may need changing as the electrical load changes. Type 2, in parralel with the supply. In the UK this is discouraged by most public supply providers and falls under the rules governing embedded micro generation, but this is how it works. As type 1 but no capacitor is required, start the engine and run at synchronous speed, connect the supply and increase engine speed slightly ensuring that the current delivered into the supply does not exceed full load motor current, or the motor will burn out. But this should not be done by the in experienced as shock hazards exist and your electricity supplier will be very unhappy.
