Can a three phase motor be run as a generator driven with an ICE

Very true.

Re: 3 phase motors used as generators. They can be used to generate electricity, but they will never do it well.

A normal AC induction motor can indeed be used as a generator but there are caveats. First, the motor will not usually just start generating if spun up. The field coils must usually be energized for a short period of time. Then the magnetic field will build up on its own if the motor, now acting as a generator, is not subjected to a load. And if the generator is overloaded the generator will stop generating and will not start generating again until the load is removed. Furthermore, even though the motor must be spun at a higher RPM than its synchronous speed, the frequency of the generated power will depend more on external factors such as load and capacitors used for power factor correction. All the above apply to a motor that has windings NOT connected to the AC mains. If the field coils are connected to the AC mains then the frequency will be whatever the mains frequency is. Sometimes people who are using wind or water turbines to make their own power will exite the windings of their induction generators with mains power (for this reason as well as others) and feed the extra power generated back into the grid. If this is done and there is a power failure the home based generators will cease generating electricity. Doing a google search will bring up many links to using AC induction motors as generators. US motors has info on their website about using their motors as generators and even provides some examples of such use. Eric

Thanks much for the educated responce,I new some of what you menchened,though i am still trying two picture the difference between how a single 220 welder is wired and how a three phase trasformer is wired and the phase wireing differences,Thanks