ABSTRACT
Generators and motors share many similarities and this chapter provides an introduction to their operating principles by looking in more detail at the construction and operation of these indispensable aircraft electrical components. It provides a brief introduction to three-phase alternating current supplies, including the theoretical and practical aspects of their generation and distribution. Engine-driven generators are a primary source of electrical power in an aircraft. Generators can supply either direct or alternating current, as appropriate to the needs of an individual aircraft type. Motors are fitted in aircraft in order to satisfy a wide range of needs. In an electric motor, current flowing in a conductor placed inside a magnetic field produces motion. A generator produces a voltage when a conductor is moved inside a magnetic field. Generators are a primary source of power in an aircraft and can either produce direct or alternating current as required.
