On 2021-May-04, at 4:06 PM, Donald via cctalk wrote: > In the deep recesses of my mind I seem to remember something about S/360 > machines using a motor generator. > > If I am right was this to create a stable power source at a certain > frequency or voltage?
I dont know about the 360, but a motor/gen can provide several benefits: - isolate the load side from mains noise - provide a degree of regulation from mains fluctuation thanks to the inertia of the rotating mass - raise the frequency so subsequent power supply transformers and caps can be smaller (ala 400Hz operation in aircraft) - convert to 3-phase as Chuck mentioned, although I would have thought that by the time a 360 is running from a motor-gen it's probably already being supplied with incoming 3-phase mains