There have been significant advances in technology in recent years and this has allowed for the evolution of power generation, ensuring that people have reliable backup and standby power when they need it the most.
There is a wide range of options where generators are concerned, and depending on the amount of power needed, the duration for which it is needed, and the specific use application, people can choose between conventional generators and alternators.
Africa Power Equipment is the leading supplier of a wide range of MECC Alte-Alternators for sale.
The popularity surrounding the use of MECC Alte-Alternators has ensured that there is a wide range of suppliers in South Africa that offer these alternators at affordable prices.
While both generators and alternators are used to generate electricity, there are distinct differences between the two, each with its pros and cons that make them ideal in different applications.
When most people refer to a “generator”, they refer to portable generators that are used as a home backup. The same with an alternator, when people hear that word, they think of the device that is used to provide power to a car battery.
While these comparisons are accurate, there are certain technical features and differences regarding how these devices generate electricity, providing power to a home, vehicles, equipment, and other applications.
An alternator is a specific type of generator that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy as an alternating current (AC).
These types of generators are typically used in the automotive industry and the mechanical process involved rotates a magnet, which in turn creates a current that distributes energy without converting it into direct current (DC).
Alternators are extremely efficient because they only provide energy when it is needed, which means that they can turn on and off as the battery needs to charge.
This makes alternators a lot more enhanced than generators as they can minimize the amount of power that is required, which means that less energy is wasted.
However, one downside is that alternators cannot charge a battery that is completely drained, and it can cause damages and fire.
Generators convert mechanical energy into electrical energy in a similar way, but the generator can provide either AC or DC. In a generator, there is a rotor that is made of coiled wires and when these rotate, they cause electricity to build up while the magnetic field housing remains stationary.
When this happens, a magnetic field is created, subsequently creating the amount of energy that is needed to spin the armature. This means that the magnetic field of an alternator is consistently rotating in the stator while the magnetic field in a generator is fixed.
The armature, which is the rotating coil or a series of coils in the electric motor, remains stationary, it can easily produce low voltage excitation to the rotor through slip rings.
People typically choose to use generators when they need more electricity because the voltage is produced through the device without it stopping. Another advantage is that generators can be used to charge a battery even if it is completely drained.
Batteries have positive and negative terminals and when charged electrons move through the conductor, they travel from one terminal to another. During this process, alternating currents reverse the flow of electrons, creating an electron pulse.
This creates energy currents that do not supply a constant stream of energy, which is inherently more useful where power conservation is concerned.
DC provides a consistent flow of electrons in a specific direction and in the case of a specific frequency, AC will require more regulating devices that can control the amount of energy that is generated to the source.
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The differences in how alternators and generators produce electricity can lead to unique divergences. Alternators can be smaller because the magnetic field is spinning instead of a large coil of wires, so the housing does not need to accommodate this.
Another advantage that alternators have is that they do not need to produce energy consistently, only when it is needed, which makes them more efficient than conventional generators, meaning that they are cost-effective and fuel-efficient.
| Alternators | Generators | |
| Electricity Generation | Has a magnetic field that spins around a stationary coil of wires | Contains a coil of wires that spins inside a stationary magnetic field |
| Usage | Cars, portable generators, other small-scale electricity production | Small, medium, and large-scale electricity generation |
| Current produced | Alternating Current (AC) | Direct Current (DC) |
| Size | Smaller and only creates voltage when it is needed | Larger and creates a constant voltage |
| Application | Cannot be used to charge a dead battery | Can be used to charge a dead battery |
| Polarization | Does not need to be polarized | Needs to be polarized for use |
MECC Alte-Alternators have a 4-pole motor that has four magnetic poles, or two pairs of magnetic poles that have a north-south-north-south configuration.
This type of motor consumes a significant amount of energy, has fewer revolutions per minute, and it delivers more torque per horsepower as well as work output, making it ideal for heavy power applications.
Some of the unique features of this type of motor include the following:
Africa Power Equipment is well-known for its wide range of MECC Alte-Alternators for sale, spread across the following models:
We also offer EvoTec Alternators for sale.
Feel free to contact our sales department about our customised generators, we are always happy to help! Extensive range of custom built generators of all sizes for sale.
Our vision is to be the one solution for all our client’s requirements. We provide a streamlined process at the best possible price. Africa Power Equipment (Pty) Ltd will provide a turnkey solution from inception to completion.
