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50 CYCLE GENERATOR
by iceng on December 13, 2011

Table of Contents
50 CYCLE GENERATOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Intro: 50 CYCLE GENERATOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 1: MOTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 2: CONNECTING MOTOR TO GENERATOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 3: WATCH IT RUN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 4: WIRING THE SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 5: STORAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

http://www.instructables.com/id/50-CYCLE-GENERATOR/

Author:iceng
Changed my avatar to Czech-point an appropriate visage depiction..... I was born in the capital city of a country that no longer exists.... I am an Electronic
Engineer and received my first degree ( BSEE ) from I.I.T. .... Got some patents. Discovered the 8080 and learned to speak 33 more machine languages....
Worked countless projects even some Nevada gaming electronics.... Can use a machine shop and getting better at heliarc every year.... Designed more
printed circuits then I can remember... Built some fun things.. Learned to fly and scuba.. Married a wonderful woman.... Love her and our children very
much... Enjoy sailing on land... Survived 10 years with Bill Lear's Steamy organization ultimately moved on to a consulting career.... Now, I only do
engineering for friends and you.. -.-. . -. --.

Intro: 50 CYCLE GENERATOR

Here you see a large alternator providing 50 Cycle AC Power and is shaft driven by a 60 Cycle motor.
Called a Motor Generator used to test equipment I occasionally designed for England, Europe and Australia.

Step 1: MOTOR
The motor is an old 7420 Frame 115VAC 9.6 Amperes 1725 RPM 1/2 Shaft Horsepower 60 Cycle Continuous Duty machine.

http://www.instructables.com/id/50-CYCLE-GENERATOR/

Image Notes
1. Single Phase 115VOLTS 60 Cycles 1/2 HP 9.6A Cont. DUTY

Step 2: CONNECTING MOTOR TO GENERATOR

You need to find a set of pulleys with differing diameters to translate the motor's 1725 RPM to the alternator's 50 cycle output.
These machines are how 50 Cycle power was generated before
the semiconductor was invented at Bell Labs.
And were known as MG Set ( Motor Generator Setup ).
Well ... Yes ... Vacuum Tubes like the Thyratron tube
which is the Vacuum tube equivalent of the SCR Silicon Controlled Rectifier
and Mercury vapor tube devices could make 50 cycle electronic supplies
before the advent of semiconductors.
Of course tubes generate Heat and take up a large volume even compared to the MG Set.
Here is a video what they looked like long ago.
Video By

Radu Motisan

Image Notes
1. RUNNING AT SPEED

http://www.instructables.com/id/50-CYCLE-GENERATOR/

Image Notes
1. 60 CYCLE MOTOR
2. 50 CYCLE ALTERNATOR GENERATOR

Step 3: WATCH IT RUN

A short video of this MG running in the lab.
... Only about 15 seconds ...

Step 4: WIRING THE SYSTEM

The MG Set has a simple motor has an On / off switch.
Power comes through the gray power cord.
The system diagram shows the 60 Hz input power Motor switch with a duplex outlet .
The output power 50 cycle wiring feeds the right half of the Double Duplex outlet .
Only the 100 VAC Outlet is active all the time when running..
When 240 VAC is needed, the transformer is plugged into the Right 100VAC outlet .
This delivers power to the Left 240VAC 50 Hz outlet.
The transformer is designed for both 50 and 60 cycle operation.
That means it has been designed for 50 Hz and will run even cooler at 60 Hz.

http://www.instructables.com/id/50-CYCLE-GENERATOR/

Image Notes
1. STEP-DOWN USED AS A STEP-UP TRANSFORMER
2. 1/2 HP MOTOR
3. 60 Cycle AC Input and Motor Power Switch
4. 50 CYCLE OUTPUTS
5. SELF COOLED ALTERNATOR

Image Notes
1. MG SYSTEM DIAGRAM

http://www.instructables.com/id/50-CYCLE-GENERATOR/

Image Notes
1. MOTOR POWER SWITCH

Image Notes
1. 240VAC FROM THE XFMR
2. STEP-UP TRANSFORMER
3. 100VAC POWER TO XFMR

Image Notes
1. TRANSFORMER BEING USED TO SUPPLY 240VAC OUTPUT 50 Hz POWER
2. 240VAC NOW ACTIVELY HOT

http://www.instructables.com/id/50-CYCLE-GENERATOR/

Step 5: STORAGE
Storing MG unit under another machine in my shop.

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Comments
6 comments

Add Comment

Foxtrot70 says:

Dec 15, 2011. 9:03 AM REPLY

AH! Excellent you constructed a power converter set. My experience with a converter set was about 30 years ago in the US Air Force when I was stationed
in Germany. Our radios were set to run on 60 Hz and the German power grid is 50 Hz. The driving motor was a 600 hp 50 Hz motor direct coupled to a 60
Hz Alternator it ran very well.

iceng says:

Dec 15, 2011. 10:59 AM REPLY

600 HP Wow, makes sense for the Air Force.

As frequency goes up magnetic weight goes proportionally down.
WWII bombers and many military transports use 400 Hx (cycle).
Most of the younger crowd probably have never seen an MG cycle converter. Thanks for sharing.
A

Foxtrot70 says:

Dec 16, 2011. 4:12 AM REPLY

Your Welcome.
The reason for the large converter set was that at that time there were 40 single channel transmitters at my base being powered. They were of the
WWll tube type and the chassis were the size of footlockers. The radios were later upgraded to transistor types, then the power requirement was
reduced, DRASTICALLY. The converter set was no longer needed as the power supplies of the new radios could be selected to run on 50, 60, or
400Hz, AC voltages from 90 - 265 vac. and also almost any DC configuration.

iceng says:

Dec 16, 2011. 11:00 AM REPLY

Electronic power supplies have com into their own since or about the time Apple got involved.
As you point out 50 through 400 Hz and 90 to 240+ VAC and sometimes DC if the device has input to that stage of the UpDownVerter.
Impressive techno world.
A

http://www.instructables.com/id/50-CYCLE-GENERATOR/

Tkdwn says:

Dec 15, 2011. 4:48 PM REPLY

Nice!

iceng says:
Thanks :-D

http://www.instructables.com/id/50-CYCLE-GENERATOR/

Dec 15, 2011. 4:54 PM REPLY