DC Dynamo - Multiple Coils
A single-coil dynamo produces direct current, but a very lumpy one that drops to zero twice per revolution. This simulation adds coils to the armature and plots the combined output, showing how the ripple smooths into something close to a steady DC level.
How to use this simulation
- Set the number of coils in the armature
- Change the rotation speed
- Vary the field strength
What to look for
- Output ripple shrinks as coils are added, approaching a flat line
- The gaps where a single-coil dynamo drops to zero get filled in
- Faster rotation raises both the frequency and the amplitude of the output
The physics behind it
Each coil generates a sinusoidal EMF that the commutator rectifies into a series of humps. With several coils offset in angle, their rectified outputs overlap so the combined voltage never falls to zero — the output is the envelope of the individual peaks. More coils means smaller ripple and a higher average voltage.