Can you combine two generators circuits together?

Answer 1

Proton LED engineer in Lyons GA says: the two circuits would have to be in phase in order to combine them.

*Actually you can always combine generator circuits. The problem comes in with HOW in phase the circuits are. If the generators are in phase (0 degrees apart) their AC voltages and currents would combine completely, but if they are out of phase (90 degrees apart) the voltages and currents will appose each other to such an extent that they will basically cancel each other out. The trick is to apply some sort of phase correction to one of the circuits in order to modify the phase difference between the two so that you can get the desired power output. Just be careful not to exceed your rated line currents when combining two generator circuits, otherwise things could get smoky! - Tristan JvR

Answer 2

Paralleling generators

The following is for three phase manual paralleling of two generators. Today's control systems will sense and do this operation automatically but the general process is the same. There are a couple of factors that have to be met when paralleling generators. The process of paralleling generators is called synchronization. What this means is that both generators have to be in phase with each other and running at the same speed. The generator that is running is called the lead generator and the one that you are trying to parallel is called the lag generator. There are two types of instrumentation used in synchronising, one is a light bank and the other a bit more sophisticated is a synchroscope meter. The synchroscope indicates whether the lag generator is faster, slower or in phase with the bus. The lag generator is brought up to speed just under the RPM of the lead generator. The synchroscope will be revolving very slowly in a clockwise rotation at this point. When the hand on the synchroscope reaches the 11 o'clock position the switch is thrown to bring the generator on to the bus tying the two generators together.

Answer 3

generators can be paralleled but they dont create power

the fuel is the power

that being said if they are paralleled before you start them and you start them at the same time you will have no problem

if one runs out of fuel it will act as a motor and put additional load on the other

synchronizing:

the old days ... if you have a switch to parallel the generators put a light bulb in parallel with the switch, bulb rated 2x the voltage of the generator

start the second generator if the two are near the same frequency the bulb gets bright and dim slowly

close the switch when its dim.

Answer 4

Running generators in parallel is tricky because it's difficult to make them share the load current equally.

On a grid system all the generators run in parallel and they also run synchronously, in other words all at exactly the same speed (there is a procedure which uses strobe lights for running up a new generator and connecting it).

In that case the power produced by each individual generator is adjusted by altering the steam supply to the turbine. A synchronous turbo-generator supplied with more steam still runs at the same speed but it takes up a slightly advanced phase-angle to deliver the extra power to the grid.

Answer 5

Yes, this is how the power company distributes power to your house. They use multiple power plants, solar, wind . . . and sync them all together on the grid.

Answer 6

No. In order to parallel two generators, they must have the same voltage, frequency, and phase.

Answer 7

Positive to positive, and negative to negative outputs.