--- title: Want to know how a generator works? description: This is 14 minutes of excerpts from a 40 minute lecture on the basic operating principles of electric motors and generators. --- [![Depico Power System](https://info.depco.com/hs-fs/hub/142125/file-1581455924.png)](http://www.depco.com/index.aspx) [Dealer Login](https://info.depco.com/login) 800-723-3726 9am - 6pm CST +1.713.675.6100 Int'l # [Want to know how a generator works? ](https://info.depco.com/blog/bid/160583/Want-to-know-how-a-generator-works) Posted by [Leigh Dow](https://info.depco.com/blog/author/leigh-dow) on Mon, Dec 17, 2012 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) This is 14 minutes of excerpts from a 40 minute lecture on the basic operating principles of electric motors and generators. It starts with a short demonstration of Oersted's accidental discovery of the relationship between electricity and magnetism, moves into demonstrations of motor effect and generator effect, and ends with a demonstration and explanation of the "Back Torque" experienced in all electric generators. Enjoy! Tags: [generator](https://info.depco.com/blog/topic/generator), [standby generator](https://info.depco.com/blog/topic/standby-generator), [Buy Used Equipment](https://info.depco.com/blog/topic/buy-used-equipment), [Power Generation](https://info.depco.com/blog/topic/power-generation), [How to](https://info.depco.com/blog/topic/how-to), [backup power](https://info.depco.com/blog/topic/backup-power) ### Subscribe via Email [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/142125/498b4442-52c1-4a1d-94f2-0c4f0f55ab5c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/142125/498b4442-52c1-4a1d-94f2-0c4f0f55ab5c) [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/142125/12c805ca-e10c-42c3-8674-1453c61a2bc3.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/142125/12c805ca-e10c-42c3-8674-1453c61a2bc3) ### Latest Posts ### Follow Depco © Depco Power Systems, Inc. 2013. All Rights Reserved. - [Home](https://info.depco.com/home/) - [Buy](https://info.depco.com/buy/) - [Sell](https://info.depco.com/sell/) - [Rent](https://info.depco.com/rent/) - [Industries & Applications](https://info.depco.com/industries-applications/) - [Dealers & Partners](https://info.depco.com/dealers-partners/) - [About Us](https://info.depco.com/about-us/) - [Buyer’s Resources](https://info.depco.com/buyers-resources/) - [Blog](https://info.depco.com/blog/?__hstc=118998038.a9b55e41bb15336c402cb90f6de3cd18.1371133201131.1373557551132.1373892328081.23&__hssc=118998038.1.1373892328081) Depco Power Systems | 8123 Hillsboro Street | Houston , Texas 77029 | 800.723.3726 tf | +1.713.675.6100 intl Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, and all other brand names and logos are trademarks of their respective companies.