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120-240 volt generator

SAFETY: Portable generators release more carbon monoxide—which is particularly dangerous because it is odorless and invisible—than most cars.... the fumes will get into house from garage
SAFETY: Portable generators release more carbon monoxide—which is particularly dangerous because it is odorless and invisible—than most cars.... the fumes will get into house from garage
Symptoms: First symptom of CO carbon monoxide poisoning is lethargy and headaches that disappear when you leave the house. Prolonged exposure can kill whole family.
Call plumber immediately to check vent, clean burner and combustion chamber, check gas pressure, and      

What to do in event of CO poisioning
:
       1) Move affected people to fresh air.  Lay on side... not on back or they will suffocate
       2) Call for medical help.
       3) Open windows and doors.
       4) Call plumber to test and repair vents.
       5) Install CO detector.
       6) Maintain water heater once per year as shown in product manual
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AC electricity is generated by passing magnetic field (or magnet) across a coil of wire.

There are two general methods of designing a generator:
Method 1: small generator, has two magnets on either side of a inner coil that rotates.
Method 2: Larger generators require electromagnets to produce enough magnetic field.
For example the generator at a power plant uses electromagnets.

On a big generator, a turbine rotates an electromagnet past coils of wire located on outer edge. The turbine can be powered by steam expolosion or wind, falling water, gasoline, etc.
Paradoxically the electricity produced by the generator is needed to supply electricity to the electromagnet.
Where do they get electricity for the electromagnet? When running, a power plant consumes up to 25% of it's own generation.  
But how do they get a big generator started to begin with? The answer is smaller and smaller generators until you arrive at a small generator uses magnets.

To avoid needing a series of small generators, each power generating plants is connected to other power generating plants across a region so electricity can be drawn from another plant to start the generator in event that a generator goes offline. A major blackout on the east coast in late 20th century cascaded across the region, kocking all generating plants offline, and causing a delimma how to get them started again. As a result, generator plants are now connected across larger areas, and generally the 21st century grid will prevent regional balckout problems. Except the grid has not been exposed to a giant solar storm yet, and so manmade electricity and every electronic device is still awaiting that event.

Summary: Magnetc fields are the root of AC electric generator.
120-240 volt generator

120-240 volt generator design

Image shows electro magnet on inside and coils on outside.
Small generators, 2 magnets are on outside and 1 center coil on inside that rotates past magnets.

At some level of power generation, you must have electromagnet.
But to to start the generator, you need get electricity for the electromagnet. To solve problem, they use progressively smaller generators until you get electricity using simple magnet and not electromagnet

120-240 volt generator

120-240 volt generator has 3 coils. A center coil that rotates. Two outer coils that sit 180° across from each other.
Illustration shows the center coil is electromagnet with North and South poles that rotates 60 times per second.
Each time the center coil passes Coil 1, it creates a pulse of electricity on Line 1.
Electricity is the flow of electrons across the surface of a conductor. Wire is one type of conductor.
Each time the North pole of center magnet passes Coil 1, the flow of electrons on Line 1 goes one direction. Then when the South pole of magnet passes Coil 1, the flow of electrons on Line 1 reverses and goes the other direction. This is called AC or alternating current. Up and down the length of the conductor, the electrons continually move on Line 1.
The voltage on Line 1 rises and falls as the magnet passes and the electrons slow down, stop and then reverse direction. When the electrons come to a stop the voltage is zero. And then the electrons reverse direction and voltage goes up again.
Yes, electricity actually changes direction with AC power, or rather the currecnt of electrons change direction, since, we actually don't know what electricity is.
At two points in each rotation cycle, the voltage drops down to zero, and then the voltage goes up again. Up and down the voltage rises and falls.. However the average voltage is above 0, and the generator rotates so quickly (50-60 rps) that the up-and-down voltage is not seen, and only average voltage matters. The average is 120 volt by design of the generator... and Line 1 tests 120 volt to ground at all times. Line 2 also tests 120 volt to ground at all times. Testing Line 1 to Line 2 shows 240 volt potential.
Neutral wire carries no voltage. Grounding for the generator is supplied by connection to the ground busbar located in main breaker box, or by installing a ground rod and making a ground connection. Grounds and Neutrals are separate, but must be bonded (connected) together.

Coil 1 and Coil 2 are out of phase with each other, so Coil 1 and Coil 2 produce a reverse flow of electrons from each other. When electrons on Line 1 are flowing away from Coil 1 toward the house, at the same time, electrons on Line 2 are flowing toward Coil 2 and toward the generator.

Generator must have a balanced Load. What that means is that Line 1 and Line 2 must supply the same amount of wattage as each other. So if you have 100 watt bulb connected to Line 1, then you need 100 watt bulb connected to Line 2.
You cannot run 1000 watts on Line 1 and 0 watts on Line 2, or the generator will overheat.
Calculate the wattage of each circuit by looking at appliance labels, and using the basic formula Volts x Amps = Watts.
Balanced loads apply only to the 120 volt circuits. When connecting 240 volt, the load is aromatically balanced, because the same wattage is pulled from each Line.
Resources:
Figure volts amps watts
How to wire 240 volt outlets
What is electricity
generator 120 and 240 volt generators are used for homes and construction businesses etc
These generaors have 2 magnets witha center coil that rotates between the two magnets.
Check the total wattage output, portability vs need
If you are connecting the power to you household electric panel, you MUST turn off main breaker and disconnect from power company service ... or use a transfer switch.

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Generators at Amazon

SAFETY: Portable generators release more carbon monoxide—which is particularly dangerous because it is odorless and invisible—than most cars.... the fumes will get into house from garage
Symptoms: First symptom of CO carbon monoxide poisoning is lethargy and headaches that disappear when you leave the house. Prolonged exposure can kill whole family.
30 Amp Generator Transfer Switch Kit Transfer switch
Purpose is to switch power off on specific breakers when you connecting generator to household breaker panel

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Transfer switch> at Amazon

Resources:
How to wire transfer switch

Resources:
Figure volts amps watts
How to wire 240 volt outlets
What is 3-phase
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