Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Electrical engineering

Synchronous generator?

Currently we have a large amount of articles describing the electrical machines:

Electric machine. Typically this is a generic name for rotating machinery, generators and motors, somehow we have a section on Electric machine#Transformer there.

• Electric motor

• AC motor
• DC motor
• many other ones, see {{Electric machines}}

• Electric generator

• Dynamo
• Alternator. This term lumps together magneto, synchronous and asynchronous generators

• Magneto

• Ignition magneto that does not link to Alternator (automotive)

• Alternator (automotive). This article has a Alternator (automotive)#Magnetos in early automobiles but does not {{main}} to either Magneto or Ignition magneto.
• Single-phase generator
• Linear alternator
• Permanent magnet synchronous generator which is a larger Magneto (acknowledged in both articles).
• Induction generator. This is, generally speaking, an asynchronous generator

• Electrostatic generator
• Homopolar generator
• Magnetohydrodynamic generator

• Synchronous condenser. Neither a generator, nor a motor.

The few minor issues are marked above. The missing elephant in this zoo is a lack of an article on synchronous generators, arguably the most important variety. Currently, the information is a part of the Alternator, which makes for a confusing name and thus is hard to find/link to (for example, until today the redirect Synchronous generator pointed to Synchronization (alternating current), which contains next to zero information on the actual generators). Permanent magnet asynchronous generator does not appear to be covered anywhere. Synchronous machine is a redirect to Synchronous motor, even though it usually used to describe a generator.

My suggestions:

1. Split Synchronous generator from Alternator. Leave alternator to describe a generic AC generator (this is currently a redirect). This is a big change, and I am hereby looking for opinions.
2. Fix other problems above by removing paragraphs. providing links and clarifications.
3. Expand the template {{Electric machines}} along the lines of the list above.

Викидим (talk) 00:32, 2 July 2023 (UTC)

More than a year passed without opposition. Implementing. Викидим (talk) 16:01, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

Good idea. Constant314 (talk) 16:56, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

Request: plug-socket cross-compatibility table

See Talk:AC power plugs and sockets#Request: plug-socket cross-compatibility table. Sai ¿?✍ 11:44, 15 August 2023 (UTC)

I could use some help with updating ESAB

A page about one of the oldest companies in the engineering field needs some help. I work for the company and the page is in need of some updates. Can someone take a look and review this proposal? Talk:ESAB#January_2024_Proposed_Changes Wiki-Free-Pie (talk) 19:31, 25 January 2024 (UTC)

Thanks for doing this the right way. Your proposed changes all look reasonable. Constant314 (talk) 00:39, 26 January 2024 (UTC)

Requested move at Talk:Three-dimensional electrical capacitance tomography#Requested move 14 May 2024

There is a requested move discussion at Talk:Three-dimensional electrical capacitance tomography#Requested move 14 May 2024 that may be of interest to members of this WikiProject. Polyamorph (talk) 15:38, 28 June 2024 (UTC)

"Polarity"

After Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Electrical polarity, it ended up cleared and redirecting to Electric current. Later I tried to source it [1] with a citation to an open textbook. Then Chetvorno rewrote it and replaced the reference [2]. Unfortunately, now "electrical polarity" is nowhere defined; we need it for incoming links, such as from Polarity symbols. Should it redirect instead to Voltage, and if so, how can it be defined? I've tried looking in the Electropedia but found their definition vague [3]. Does anyone know of better sources, please? Thank you! fgnievinski (talk) 04:30, 19 November 2024 (UTC)

Electric polarity (also electrical polarity, this one seems to be preferred by biologists) essentially means a difference in electric potential, so the redirect to electric current (or changes to that article) might indeed not be the best way to go (polarity deals with Volts, not Amperes).

That said, it makes sense to prepare a WP:draft somewhere and then overwrite the electrical polarity (as a more popular spelling). I will look for definitions that should be available IMHO. Викидим (talk) 04:53, 19 November 2024 (UTC)

Some definitions:

1. electrical polarity, which is defined as the property of an electrified body or apparatus to have electrical charges of positive and negative signs at opposite ends or on two electrodes ([4], a patent)
2. Correct answer to the question "electrical polarity refers to ..." in the "Grantham's FCC License Study Guide" ([5])

etc. Викидим (talk) 05:28, 19 November 2024 (UTC)

Here are some more definitions:

• "Polarity-1. A condition by which the direction of current can be determined in an electrical circuit (usually batteries and other direct-voltage sources). 2. Having two opposite charges, one positive and one negative. 4. The condition of positiveness or negativeness in an electrical circuit. 5. The positive and negative orientation of a signal or power source. 6. Any condition in which there are two opposing voltage levels or charges, such as positive and negative." Graf, 1999, Modern Dictionary of Electronics

• "DC is current that travels in one direction only. ... DC is also said to have constant polarity; meaning it doesn't change from positive to negative and vice versa. ... AC has electron flow in both directions, alternating from forward to backward. It also has changes in polarity. DEFINITION: Polarity is a positive or negative electric charge" The Complete Idiot's Guide to Electronics 101, 2011

I agree with Викидим: polarity has more to do with voltage or charge, than current, and if there are no better targets should be redirected there. --Chetvorno^TALK 06:58, 19 November 2024 (UTC)