What is the difference between a dynamo and DC generator?
A dynamo, originally another name for an electrical generator, now means a generator that produces direct current with the use of a commutator. Dynamos were the first electrical generators capable of delivering power for industry, and the foundation upon which many other later electric-power conversion devices were based, including the electric motor, the alternating-current alternator, and the rotary converter. They are rarely used for power generation now because of the dominance of alternating current, the disadvantages of the commutator, and the ease of converting alternating to direct current using solid state methods. DC generator is a general term for anything that generates DC voltage. It could apply to a battery or a fuel cell, although it usually isn’t. So a dynamo is one type of DC generator. An alternator with diodes as used in automobiles is another type. .
