Editing Electric generator (section)

==Terminology==
[[File:Generator-20071117.jpg|thumb|right|Early [[Ganz]] Generator in [[Zwevegem]], [[West Flanders]], [[Belgium]]]]

[[Electromagnetism|Electromagnetic]] generators fall into one of two broad categories, dynamos and alternators.

* [[Dynamo]]s generate pulsing [[direct current]] through the use of a [[commutator (electric)|commutator]].
* [[Alternator]]s generate [[alternating current]].

Mechanically, a generator consists of a rotating part and a stationary part which together form a [[magnetic circuit]]:

*[[Rotor (electric)|Rotor]]: The rotating part of an [[electrical machine]]. 
*[[Stator]]: The stationary part of an electrical machine, which surrounds the rotor.

One of these parts generates a magnetic field, the other has a wire winding in which the changing field induces an electric current:
*[[Field coil|Field winding]] or field (permanent) magnets: The [[magnetic field]]-producing component of an electrical machine. The magnetic field of the dynamo or alternator can be provided by either wire windings called [[field coil]]s or [[permanent magnet]]s. Electrically excited generators include an [[excitation (magnetic)|excitation system]] to produce the field flux. A generator using [[magnet|permanent magnets]] (PMs) is sometimes called a [[magneto]], or a [[permanent magnet synchronous generator]] (PMSG).
*[[Armature (electrical engineering)|Armature]]: The power-producing component of an electrical machine.  In a generator, alternator, or dynamo, the armature windings generate the electric current, which provides power to an external circuit. 
The armature can be on either the rotor or the stator, depending on the design, with the field coil or magnet on the other part.