# Generators **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 3, 2022, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870 "2022-02-03T19:55:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kalel1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kalel1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalel1)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870/21 "2022-02-04T19:56:03Z")
Yes I know that series will up the voltage not the wattage parallel will up the wattage ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870/22 "2022-02-04T20:13:07Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > Putting them in series would generate a complex waveform with double the output sometimes and zero at others. It’s not a complex waveform. The generators have a mechanical link and are thus at the same frequency. Any two simple sinusoids at the same frequency will add to another simple sinusoid. That’s why it’s totally fine to get 208 V out of a three-phase distribution by using two of the legs. There might be other issues at play, but that’s not one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870/23 "2022-02-04T21:13:34Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > mechanical link If they were on the same shaft - maybe - then use a step down transformer. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870/24 "2022-02-04T21:16:39Z")
The OP claims to be using a timing chain. Assuming it’s mechanically robust enough, it should be as good as being on the same shaft. ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870/25 "2022-02-04T21:21:29Z")
Since there are so many engineers here with ideas on how to set up a power system, it might be easiest to just ask OP: What are you trying to do with these generators? ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870/26 "2022-02-04T21:23:39Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > as good as being on the same shaft Yes, if you had fine adjustments to match phase. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870/27 "2022-02-04T22:27:23Z")
It doesn’t have to be that close if you’re just going between phases. Using the right tooth on a 24-tooth sprocket would get you within 7.5 degrees. Cosine of that is \>0.99. Wouldn’t be good enough for putting parallel, though. For that, though, you could displace one generator by up to a chain link length to get it as close as you wanted. A flexible shaft coupling might be a good idea as well. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870/28 "2022-02-04T22:34:07Z")
I was thinking of parallel. If he hooks it up maybe we’ll get a report. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870/29 "2022-02-04T22:43:44Z")
Keeping in mind that there are two different meanings of “report”. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870/30 "2022-02-04T22:47:16Z")
> [@Kalel1](#): > > Yes I know that series will up the voltage not the wattage parallel will up the wattage Both setups (assuming you get them to work) would have the same wattage. The series setup would have the same current as one generator but double the voltage, while the parallel setup would have the same voltage as a single but double the current. Voltage times current is power (wattage), so using two together in either configuration would mean double the power. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870/31 "2022-02-04T22:52:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Keeping in mind that there are two different meanings of “report” I was going to make a joke along these lines, but the pun makes this one perfect. I genuinely almost spit out my coffee. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870/32 "2022-02-05T01:00:13Z")
> [@Kalel1](#): > > parallel will up the wattage Only if the generators load-share, which if they aren’t designed to do that, they won’t. Load sharing generators typically have a connection specifically for load sharing that goes between the two generators so that they can adjust their outputs to divide the current evenly between the generators. Without that, if there is any difference at all between the generator outputs, they won’t evenly load share. What you are most likely to end up with is one generator trying to supply something like 8000 watts while the other only tries to supply 3000 (actual numbers may vary, this is just to illustrate the point). Then the first generator trips, or if your circuit breaker isn’t fast enough the generator just self destructs, and the second generator tries to pick up the entire 11000 watts, and it also either trips or self destructs. Load sharing is not as simple as tying the outputs together. It would make my job a lot easier if you could, but that’s not how it works. Is there any way that you can split the load? > [@Chronos](#): > > Keeping in mind that there are two different meanings of “report”. 👍 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870.md?page=1)