Tesla motor as a generator

Ovidijus said:

Okay captain negativity.

Click to expand...

@remy_martian @MattsAwesomeStuff
off topic - wasn't there a similar thread just a couple of months ago when someone asked for advice, then when great people like both of you (and others) give the realistic answer, it always ends up with negative comments?

And they're not even paying you a single cent.

I think the one you're recollecting is he that continually gets himself put on vacation. Matt's about due to let him off his chain now, what with the Holiday spirit and all 😂

Sometimes it's thankless, yes. Even a cruel, uncalled-for lashout. But it's more than rewarding, net tally, when you see some of the projects moving forward here and many of those people giving back to the forum with their builds and findings, vs treating it as a helpline and disappearing like a bone you threw at a selfish dog.

What seems like brutality or negativity, if you think about it, has saved people a lot of money by them not having to "f%#k around and find out."

Prove both of them wrong, if you can. Matt should be easier since he doesn't have the EE background and 6 million years experience fighting stoopid corporate beancounters, but he still won't be a pushover.

Perhaps even Brian can get his mystical google Fu to show how it could be done in theory, but I bet you it hasn't been actually done.

Tesla makes a decent EV. A subsidiary may or not be making solar power systems. Haven't seen a Tesla branded wind turbine yet and the jury is still out on the semi truck.

piotrsko said:

Perhaps even Brian can get his mystical google Fu to show how it could be done in theory, but I bet you it hasn't been actually done.

Click to expand...

The build would be straightforward... it's just a normal induction machine. I agree that it's unlikely that anyone has done it, because the Tesla unit is so poorly suited to the application.

A Tesla Model S/X motor is a simple induction motor. Once energized, it will produce 3 phase electricity when you spin it. If you combine the motor with an appropriately programmed inverter you will be able to harness that energy back to a battery pack, just like the car does during regenerative braking.

Hi all, a fascinating exchange of ideas, and guidance, and we have not talked about a 60 kW propeller, mountings wind forces and etc.
Have fun, Joe

Hi All, an interesting exchange of advice and information. And have not discussed the prospective 60 kW turbine propeller, mounting, wind forces, etc. Have fun, Joe

Why don't people here answer questions directly - or not at all - instead of opining on irrelevant issues?
What does a Tesla motor do when it "regeneratively" brakes????
It's a brilliantly designed generator!
The entire geartrain is perfectly suitable to wind generation - with a very small additional gear ratio from wind turbine speed to car wheel speed. In the order of 2:1 or so.
Even some of the Tesla control system for regen braking would be great.
The biggest advantage would be the weight savings up a pole. The disadvantage is them; complication of liquid cooling. but I can easily imagine solutions to that (shaft driven pump and radiator integral with the nacelle)....
Worth persuing.

eojjho said:

Hi All, an interesting exchange of advice and information. And have not discussed the prospective 60 kW turbine propeller, mounting, wind forces, etc. Have fun, Joe

Click to expand...

Why would we talk about turbines on THIS forum? The OP said he had a wind turbine business, so he has experts on that subject to hand....
A 60kW turbine is not particularly big, btw

Regen is just a freebie to inefficiently add some energy back into the pack instead of making brake heat and nowhere near what a dedicated generator will do. If you want to build a tesla powered turbine, go ahead just don't expect much output or efficiency. I have popcorn and maybe ten years life expectancy left, post when it's done.

piotrsko said:

nowhere near what a dedicated generator will do

Click to expand...

What makes you think a Tesla induction motor would be inefficient as a generator? What difference is there in the construction of a "dedicated generator"?

piotrsko said:

Regen is just a freebie to inefficiently add some energy back into the pack instead of making brake heat and nowhere near what a dedicated generator will do...

Click to expand...

Sounds like an armchair commentator's reply to me. Where does the extra energy from braking or downhill rolling go then, if a motor is so inefficient at converting it into electricity? Extra heat? Can't notice that in any EV I know of.... How is a generator constructed differently to a motor????
What's your knowledge of induction?
I'm not attacking you, btw, just suggesting you question your curren knowledge a bit more thoroughly - or not reply to posts you don't understand...

Well Joe and cat, where is the magnetic field of an induction motor? And of a generator?

Once you know that then you can make an armchair guess about the ouput.

kennybobby said:

Well Joe and cat, where is the magnetic field of an induction motor? And of a generator?

Click to expand...

Well the magnetic field always surrounds the rotor, that part is easy. The question is in what way the different methods of generating that field (permanent magnet, induction, slip ring) impact efficiency. I believe the largest generators use slip rings, but I don't know if that's for efficiency or just control, hence my question.

Tesla motors in question have permanent magnets with fixed value magnetic field strength.... Slip rings are for controlling the magnetic field in wound electromagnetic field rotors. They are simpler to control. Control electronics have overcome that need. Even my 1978 Honda CX500 had permanent magnets in the generator rotor.... so not 'new' technology for generators.
For kennobbie's benefit: I'm a retired academic with serious electrical design experience - I've earned my armchair

JoeInOz said:

Tesla motors in question have permanent magnets with fixed value magnetic field strength

Click to expand...

Was that specified? I'm mostly only familiar with Model S motors, which are squirrel cage induction motors. I think one should be able to get decent efficiency with either type though.

JoeInOz said:

Tesla motors in question have permanent magnets with fixed value magnetic field strength....

Click to expand...

There aren't ANY permanent magnets in a Tesla LDU. Or slip rings.

Your ball.

JoeInOz said:

Why would we talk about turbines on THIS forum? The OP said he had a wind turbine business, so he has experts on that subject to hand....
A 60kW turbine is not particularly big, btw

Click to expand...

Hi Joe in Aus, So an academic that has thrown his leg over a bike or two. I can appreciate your intolerance of us lesser mortals, and being annoyed wihen wandering off the subject. I was only observing that as an E.Eng. that was enjoying the chit chat. As the Irishman said, "If I was going there, I wouldn't start from here".
It was suggesteed that it might be an induction motor. 60 years ago I recollect doing an experiment that getting an induction motor genetating required parallel capacitance, and drawing curves speed / volage with variable capacitance. So IF an induction motor, the Tesla controller must incorporate circuitry to manage regen. Mmmmm, beyond me!
So, I will climb back in my box.
Joe in Mann!

JoeInOz said:

Tesla motors in question have permanent magnets with fixed value magnetic field strength....

Click to expand...

That's recent Tesla motors, but the query appears to be about the Tesla motors which are readily available, which are all induction motors. I attempted to clearly confirm this (in one of the posts - #14 - which you dismiss as irrelevant), but the original poster understands so little about motors and generator basics that he was unable - or unwilling - to respond. The working assumption is that the old induction motors are the subject of the query.

JoeInOz said:

... I'm a retired academic with serious electrical design experience - I've earned my armchair

Click to expand...

You have so far earned nothing - including no credibility - in this forum. You are clearly not familiar with Tesla components, beyond some recent promotional material. Make positive contributions, respectfully, and you will earn a place... you obviously do have valuable knowledge.