"Flashing" means to apply a DC voltage momentarily to the field coil in order to develop some residual magnetism in the field. This is needed to make the generator self-excite when you spin it up. That's why it is possible for it to generate without having an external power source for the field coil. You will probably need to do this as it appears it has been sitting unused for a while. But why not just give it a try first? No harm done if it doesn't work. DC voltage should appear between the two terminals you identified. By the way, the commutator could stand cleaning.
A shunt wound machine can be either a motor or a generator, depending on if its driven or powered. Couldn't fully see from the video, but you could eee the feild coils and what looks like a wire from them. So when turned residule magnetism will generate a small voltage, which boosts the magnetic field via the field winding and the output voltage will build up. Given the age i would suggest its a generator. Prior to efficent rectifiers motor generator sets were used to convert AC to DC or act as DC voltage changers. Most early electric rail units used them to power the control and auxillary circuits.
I think this device was designed to be a generator because its data plate says 18 amps whilst the hp rating is not given. If it was intended to be a motor I would expect a figure for hp but not necessarily for amps - but I am ill educated and may be talking out of the wrong end.
Looks like it's shunt wound so it will act as either a motor or dynamo, if it was a compound unit you have to reverse the series windings and leave the shunt as is to use a compound wound motor as a dynamo. The bearings should have the brass discs immersed in oil as they pick the oil up and carry it to the bearings. I have a 1920's book that tells you all bout how to do this. I am not far from you,about 9 miles from swaffham so if you ever need some electrical help.
This might help or hinder! When I sailed deep-sea as a ships Engineer the load on a motor was always logged in Amps and the generator load was always logged in Watts or kW. When getting a quote for the cost of a motor rewind the size of the motor was stated in Horsepower! I never understood why I still don't !!
It’s a dynamo shunt wound it would work as a motor though . The idea of flashing is to magnetise the iron around the field. Yes it would run lights or anything that runs on dc . If you connect it to a 12v battery it will probably turn . For ac you need slip rings .
Nice to see a short video for a change Adam....I'm sure lots of people may disagree but for me personally, watching a half hour video takes too much time. Don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy your channel but I often find myself clicking through... Anyway back to today's video....I'd say it's a motor...but could it just be a dual purpose machine?... Keep up the good work mate
If you clean the commutator ( the copper segments that the brushes run on) with say a scotch bright or fine sand paper make sure you clean out the slots between the segments afterwards to prevent shorts between them. An old hacksaw or junior hacksaw blade with the sides ground off is good for this. The large cables at the terminal block probably go the brushes and the thin ones to the field windings. Initially I would suggest disconnecting one of the field wires and spinning the armature. If there is any residual magnetism left you should be able to measure a small DC voltage across the brushes and determine the polarity of the output. Like someone said you could put a rheostat in series with the field windings to control the output voltage. Looking forward to next video on this.
I did give it a try. I put my meter on the 2 connections and spinning it as fast as I can by hand I got between 0.5 and 1 volt. I though that maybe a good sign.
Technically, a motor and a generator are the same thing! It just depends whether you turn it to get electricity or feed it electricity to get the shaft to turn. I'd try just setting your multimeter to volts DC, connect it across those terminals and turn the motor as fast as you can by hand to see if it outputs some voltage. If so then you have a generator! Obviously it all gets a bit more complicated than that in real world applications...
As others have said, these early motors could be either a motor is fed with DC electricity, or a generator if driven. I suggest connecting the unit with a belt from an engine or another electric motor and get it turning at about 1500 rpm. A lower rpm will give a lower voltage, and a higher rpm will hive a higher voltage. Also clean the commutator with isopropyl alcohol and a cloth. Use heavy duty wire to connect to your lights as low volts means higher amps. Good luck.
DC Generator will motor.But designed as a Generator .YOU HAVE A DC GENERATOR (DYNAMO). Carbon brushes are expensive . I have just replaced some on a generator cost £125.00 Erodex uk.Do not use motor brushes they are abrasive and do not make a good contact .With oilers date 1920's.I tested mine by driving with a 0.25 HP motor . The armature windings will show low res. these can be identified by lifting the brushes and res will disappear . The field winding will be slightly higher .One side should be connected to the armature. The other end via a rheostat (variable resistor) to the other armature connection . If it Generates no flashing required ! I tested mine at 400rpm..There are good youtube vids on Shunt Generators (Dynamos)American but clear with good graphics . I have also read old books about Dynamos of the same vintage as your machine . Vids are alot clearer but the old photos are interesting .
Yes generator, but can be used as motor , that's how dynastarts work , iisters have similar, you may have to energise or excite we call flash , be aware negative positive ,
deffo a generator i would say as doesnt have hp rating on the plate looks like also 75/50v at 18 amps should be able too spin it up and checkk wqith a multemeter
I have seen more then once were to identical motor put together as a power plant one was ac powered as the other identical motor as a generator making DC voltage with your place looks like 75 voltage generator
