dc generator

--------- What kind of generator - it appears to have a shunt winding but also, if used for welding, likely has a fairly hefty series winding. In he latter case, it may work. - I assume that starting now is done with a pull rope so the start torque and speed needs are low. If it has only a shunt field, then the chance of success will be quite a bit lower.-particularly at 24V. It may be trial and error time.

-- Don Kelly snipped-for-privacy@peeshaw.ca remove the urine to answer

thanks Don,

yep, there is a heavy series coil (fewer turns) and a finer (more turns) shunt coil - both on a common iron core (core has two little air gaps). The welder brand is Wisconsin. In an attempt to get the rotor spinning I momentarily had a 12V car battery connected directly to the welding electrode contacts. Unfortunately, the rotor didn't budge at all. I guess the generator/motor is just not giving enough starting torque (due to lack of a stronger series induction?) Meanwhile, I gave up on the idea and bought standard run of the mill AC generator (alternator with a briggs&stratton 4 stroke plus starter motor) which I'm going to modify for my purpose. catcha, Peter.

---------- Sometimes that is the simplest and cheapest solution.

-- Don Kelly snipped-for-privacy@peeshaw.ca remove the urine to answer