Motor Generator

Motor Generator. Edison’s Power Source. When the "Wizard of Electricity" arrived in Fort Myers, the "bright lights of Broadway" were, literally and figuratively, very far away. , , Edison used a variety of equipment to electrify his estate over the decades. Edison and Ezra Gilliland personally supervised the installation of the first electric dynamo, or generator, in April of 1887. The engine was driven by a coal-fired steam boiler. By 1888, all the necessary electrical devices were "at his laboratory... and all that is required is putting up the poles and stringing the wires." , A dynamo is an electrical generator that creates direct current, or DC. It is powered by different sources, such as steam, coal, or water. , , Edison left Fort Myers in May 1887, and would not return until 1901. The boiler and dynamo continued operating lights and water pumps for about 25 years. The dynamo was not operated 24 hours a day, but only when needed. , , Records show major repair work on the boiler in 1906 and 1910. This indicates that the estate continued to use Edison's local direct current power for almost 25 years, although the first alternating current electric plant had been built in Fort Myers in 1898. , , By 1919, the dynamos that powered the lamps on the "Electric Wizard's" estate were removed and shipped to West Orange, New Jersey. Electric bills first appear in the documents in 1918, confirming that the estate had finally been converted from direct current to alternating current that was provided by the local power company. Eventually, the equipment was brought to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. , , [Insert:] , Part of the power generating system was located inside the original Edison laboratory. The small dynamo and flywheel can be seen in the left corner of this image, as well as a portion of the brick coal furnace at the back (east end) of the lab. , (captions) , Left: The Reliance docked at the end of the Edison Pier. , , Edison's 36-foot electric launch was one of two boats he had here in Fort Myers. The other boat was named the "Mina." The Reliance was powered by nickel iron alkaline batteries recharged by a generator. , , Did You Know? , This generator was made by the Hertner , Electric Company in Cleveland, Ohio. , Serial No. 2528 , 15hp 220v 30 60 Hz , 37A 1750 RPM , 400 C Continuous Duty , You can see a motor generator similar to , this one Edison used for his boats in the , Orientation Gallery in our Museum. .