A Brief History of Generators

Newcomen 1712 engine

A generator is an important device for many people today. This appliance can be used to provide energy to anyone who is in a blackout or power outage situation. Nowadays, many companies are producing a lot of different types of generators for residential and commercial properties. We have more choices than ever when deciding how to deliver power when you need it most.

This huge selection can give you flexibility because you can choose the best devices based on your needs. However, these generators have been refined a lot over the last 100 years to get to where they are today. In this article, we are going to discuss a brief history of generators. You will learn how people got to where we are today and the benefits from these generators in the past.

Early Beginning of the 1700s

Newcomen 1712 engine

The beginning of the 1700s could be considered as the beginning period of the steam engine (which was later referred to as the generator). After the development of the Newcomen 1712 engine, James Watt found a massive energy loss during the operation. This particular engine required a lot of energy to heat the cylinders at the starting process. Therefore, James Watt developed a powerful Watt steam engine in the year 1781. This engine was popular among many people because it was more efficient than any other steam engines on the market.

This period became a significant period in the development of generators. After Watt's invention, many people were trying to find any new developments in this industry. There were a lot of engine improvements, for example, rotary motion in the operational mechanism. All of these procedures were able to lead to progressive generator development. Because of his finding, the name ‘Watt’ was used to name the amount of energy required to power up any electricity accessories or devices.

The Electricity Development – around 1800s

Michael Faraday

The period of the 1800s was another significant period of generator development. Michael Faraday played a significant role in the invention of electricity in the early 1800s. At the beginning of this period, he was able to invent a magnetic generator. This generator worked by rotating two magnets within the poles around it. This old generator produced a high current of electricity with a low voltage. The magnetic principle from this Faraday's generator was commonly used in the production of a dynamo. The finding of dynamo was a significant invention in the electrical industry.

In the middle of the 1800s, some inventions could be found from the Faraday's principle, including DC and AC generators. In the late 1870s, Thomas Edison was able to introduce the Electric Lighting System using DC generators. This system could be used to supply enough power for light industries and homeowners. In the early 1880s, many industries had already installed the system in their properties. In 1887, there was a significant finding from Nikola Tesla. He created significant changes in the generator progression by improving the existing AC generator. Tesla introduced a Polyphase AC system that had several outputs. This invention led to the development of generators used by massive companies because these generators were able to generate a huge amount of power.

The 1900s – Expansion Period of the Generators

After all of those significant developments and inventions, many companies were trying to produce generators with many different features and benefits. The motor was also used to accompany the generator's production process. During this period, many types of generators were created to help business owners run their businesses. Electricity-generating units were created to supply enough power to maximize productivity.

The Invention of Portable Generators – the 2000s

portable generator

Many people were trying to find the best generators that can be moved from one place to another easily. Therefore, the production of portable generators was inevitable. Many portable generators were produced in this period. They contained some necessary parts with a small size, for example, fuel tank, speed regulator, voltage regulator, engine, etc. These portable generators were also designed with a starting mechanism. They contained a battery and starter, so they can be turned on quickly and easily.

Since then, the production of generators has been improving rapidly. You will be able to find a lot of generators with portable design, a quiet system, and also powerful performance, so you can get the maximum benefit.

For all your generator needs, call us at A&J Generator and Equipment today!.

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