Can you link two same spec generators together to double the wattage?
I have two nearly identical unregulated Honda 2.2kva generators.
The only difference between them is that one can do 230v and 115v
While the other can do 115v and 57v.
The alternators are identical besides their winding count.
What I want to know is if I can wire the 230v alternator for 115v in parallel, and then wire the 115v alternator for 115v by wiring the two 57v winding in series. Then wiring the alternators together in series for 230 again but higher wattage?
Will it also change the output Hz from 50 or remain the same with two generators running at 50Hz?
And what would happen if one generator cutout? Would I need to make some automated switch off circuitry?
Also if this can't be done, I'd like to know the physics behind it as I'm always willing to learn!
Probably could be done. The 230 volt output would be useless, as it is single phase center tapped output, meaning the 115 volt outlets would be out of phase with each other as measured from the center tap. So just one 115 volt output and neutral could be connected to the other generator 115 volt output. A serious issue would be synchronizing the generators speed and phase with one another. See the video second source about 4 minutes in to see how he built a light bulb synchronizer so he can connect them together in phase. Both generators need to be producing the same frequency before they can be connected. I think the neutrals of both generators are connected, either end of the the 230v lamp being connected to the 115v hot of each generator. Obviously, this will void any warranty, and could be dangerous. Honda does make generators that are designed to be operated in parallel, though those are designed differently internally.
If one cut out while both were connected together, the running one would transfer electricity to the non powered one, keeping it spinning at the same speed (both probably at some lower speed due to the friction losses of the dead gas engine still turning).
IT WOULD NOT WORK!
IF YOU DID THAT, BOTH VOLTAGE AND FREQUENCY ARE NO MORE 50 HZ SINE WAVE AND 230V.
THEY ARE AC POWER SOURCE, THEY HAVE PHASE DIFFERENCE WHILE RUNNING IN NON SYNCHRONIZE MODE.
== YOU NEED TO READ THE BASIC CONCEPT OF AC POWER GENERATOR TEXT BOOK START FROM THE BEGINNING ==
The current required to produce a given Wattage at 115 Volts is twice the current required to produce that same Wattage at 230 Volts. This means for sure that some of the wiring in the output of the high Voltage generator is smaller in diameter than that in the low Voltage generator. This alone would limit the output Wattage to that of the lowest Wattage rated generator if you did attempt to operate them in series to increase the total Wattage.
If you had the proper synchronizing equipment it might be possible to operate the low Voltage generator in the 115V configuration and parallel it with either, but only one, of the 115V outputs of the other generator to increase the output power of a single generator by 50%. But please don't attempt it.
I can understand why you might give it consideration but my humble advice is to not even attempt to connect the generators to a common load to increase the available Wattage nor for any other reason. The generators were designed for Voltage versatility and are certainly not meant to be operated connected in series nor in parallel.
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