Generate Electricity From a Motor
by TechMartian in Circuits > Electronics
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Generate Electricity From a Motor
![Screen Shot 2017-07-20 at 10.55.41 PM.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FDJ/SZAS/J5CQ1A8A/FDJSZASJ5CQ1A8A.jpg&filename=Screen Shot 2017-07-20 at 10.55.41 PM.jpg)
Typically, a motor converts electrical energy to mechanical energy. However, in this project we will used a motor for the exact opposite, generate electrical energy from mechanical energy. This device is knows as an alternator, but thanks to the laws of physics we can also use the motor as such. In addition, this is also an easy way of testing any motors, DC, Brushless, Stepper, etc., whether they are functioning or broken.
Materials
![2016-07-19 19.26.48.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F0S/72X8/J5CQ18R8/F0S72X8J5CQ18R8.jpg&filename=2016-07-19 19.26.48.jpg)
- DC Motor
- LED
- Jumper wires
Connect the DC Motor to the LED
![2016-07-19 19.27.49.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FX3/ITV9/J5CQ18Z0/FX3ITV9J5CQ18Z0.jpg&filename=2016-07-19 19.27.49.jpg)
- Using a female-to-female jumper cable, connect the each pin of the LED to individual pins of the DC motor, respectively.
- The order is not important since it will only affect the direction that you crank the DC motor.
Demo
![LED powered by DC Motor Demo](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F0T/4BMW/J5CQ1A7D/F0T4BMWJ5CQ1A7D.jpg&filename=LED powered by DC Motor Demo)
Crank the DC motor as fast as you can, and you can see that the LED lights up which is evidence that mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy.