Alternator or dynamo

[Kram]

From what I can decider it has a 24v output and is good for 4893 watts.

Not through those two tiny wires its not, they look more like 20amp rather than 200 amp...

so a bit of progress this morning, I’ve spun it up with the cordless drill at 1350rpm and with the meter connected to the output I was getting no meaningful VDC output but I did observe a steady 5VAC output.

So if my maths are correct to generate 24V it will need to run at around 6500rpm

If there is no regulation, the voltage should be quite a bit higher than rated with no load, even if its spinning slower.

 

[Spark plug]

Not through those two tiny wires its not, they look more like 20amp rather than 200 amp...

I never done the maths tbh, it looks like 15a, the rating plate is in horrendous condition:

 

[minimutly]

4893 defo has No before it.

 

[Robotstar5]

There's a vintage magnetos & dynamos group on FB that may be worth joining? - linky

 

[Martin-Sy]

Greetings. It's possibly a Stones TurboGenerator.
These were fitted on some of the later (1935 & on) UK steam locos. All the Bullied pacifics had one.
They provided power for lighting in the cab (Water gauges, pressure gauges etc), lights over the motion where oiling points were located and the headcode lights on the front of the loco / rear of the tender.

There's a manual here:

https://www.southdevonrailwayassociation.org/Stones_LBB_Turbo_Generator/Stones_Turbo_LBB_Generator_Manual.pdf

As has already been said, removing the rotor without a keeper will result in loss of field strength and probably b****r it.

 

[Martin-Sy]

Forgot to say that Stones were in Deptford.

 

[Spark plug]

Greetings. It's possibly a Stones TurboGenerator.
These were fitted on some of the later (1935 & on) UK steam locos. All the Bullied pacifics had one.
They provided power for lighting in the cab (Water gauges, pressure gauges etc), lights over the motion where oiling points were located and the headcode lights on the front of the loco / rear of the tender.

There's a manual here:

https://www.southdevonrailwayassociation.org/Stones_LBB_Turbo_Generator/Stones_Turbo_LBB_Generator_Manual.pdf

As has already been said, removing the rotor without a keeper will result in loss of field strength and probably b****r it.

That is exelent, thank you, I wish I had this yesterday.

 

[Martin-Sy]

Hope you can get it going. Is going back on a loco?

 

[Spark plug]

Hope you can get it going. Is going back on a loco?

No it’s going on a road locomotive, I.e. a traction engine

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

Looks like 24v 15a serial no 4893. 24v would make sense if it was for automotive lighting

 

[Martin-Sy]

Its AC and much more than 50Hz!

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

Greetings. It's possibly a Stones TurboGenerator.
These were fitted on some of the later (1935 & on) UK steam locos. All the Bullied pacifics had one.
They provided power for lighting in the cab (Water gauges, pressure gauges etc), lights over the motion where oiling points were located and the headcode lights on the front of the loco / rear of the tender.

There's a manual here:

https://www.southdevonrailwayassociation.org/Stones_LBB_Turbo_Generator/Stones_Turbo_LBB_Generator_Manual.pdf

As has already been said, removing the rotor without a keeper will result in loss of field strength and probably b****r it.

Good spot. So used for a train headlight and cab lighting ?

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

I wonder whether a traction engine will produce enough steam to run it. Traction engine dynamos are run from a belt at slow speed

 

[Martin-Sy]

Good spot. So used for a train headlight and possibly cab lighting ?

See earlier post. Headlights on steam were (almost) never fitted in the UK where the line side is fenced so less chance of people/animals getting in the way.
Overseas it was common practice to have headlights as the lines were not fenced.
The manual copy looks to have come from South Africa.

 

[Red'n'Black]

Its AC and much more than 50Hz!

Ok, if it's only used for lighting that makes sense.
Do this type have slip rings, or is the permanent magnet in the rotor?

 

[Spark plug]

I wonder whether a traction engine will produce enough steam to run it. Traction engine dynamos are run from a belt at slow speed

That’s two different things, the belt driven ones where on showman’s engines uses to power / light, rides and attractions when the engine is stationary so they where much bigger. This one is intended for a road loco to power cab lights, headlights, tail lights etc. there will be more than enough steam available.

 

[Martin-Sy]

Do this type have slip rings, or is the permanent magnet in the rotor?

That's a good question & I do not know. Looking at the manual there is no mention of slip rings or brushes which there surely would be.
Could it be a switched reluctance type? These don't need either. The field and windings are static, the rotor 'switches' the field around different poles in the stator.

Also more web trawling seems to indicate that there are other models from the same company that did produce DC.

On the steam supply ..... ISTR there was one on a 45 Ton steam crane (smallish vertical boiler) and it did use quite a lot of its steam capacity.

 

[DAPPH]

I have this very old generator on the bench I’ve been asked to have a look at and clean up. From what I can decider it has a 24v output and is good for 4893 watts.

View attachment 360545

But the concerning bit is the plate on the side witch says:

View attachment 360546

Any one got any ideas before I do something silly, I’m guessing dynamo simply because of age which I’m estimating at 1930-40’s

Removing the magnets I suspect means you have to put them back in a tuned manner ie exactly as you took them out so many degree apart and precisely the right way round .