Motors vs Generators and AC vs DC

[nina_rox]

What are the similarities of Motors and Generators?
And for AC and DC how are each achieved?
Is this just talking about the split and slip ring? Is the split ring only for DC and slip only for AC?

Thank you very much! Any help is really appreciated!

[FlorianK]

Split ring is for DC motors only. You need the split ring commutator to switch the current so that the coil keeps moving and the direction of the force on each side is always in the same direction.

Slip rings are for AC generators. The purpose of the slip rings in an AC generator is to take the alternating current produced from the generator and transfer it to an external load. One slip ring is electrically connected to one side of the coil and the other slip ring to the other side of the coil.

[Lasercookie]

Motors and Generators are the same set up really, except in a motor the goal is to get the coil spinning (so you provide a field, current and that creates a force) and in a generator you want to generate a current (providing a field and a force).

A generator can produce AC or DC, depending on if you attach a split ring commutator or slip rings to it. A split ring commutator is used for DC. A slip ring is used for AC. This should be clear once you take a look into how each of the commutators function. Recall how AC and DC are represented when plotted (AC alternates between positive and negative, DC doesn't).

Just a generator without a commutator produces AC (this should be clear if you think about how the generator functions). The split ring commutator alternates the connections to the terminals every half turn, effectively adjusting it into DC. A slip ring doesn't do manipulate the current in that way, hence you would get AC being output.

The textbooks have good explanations of this. I also realise that I link to this web page a lot, but the animations here are really good: http://www.animations.physics.unsw.edu.au/jw/electricmotors.html#mandg

[nina_rox]

Thank you both so much! That makes much more sense.