Whether your residential lighting has just called it quits during a thunderstorm or your commercial parking lot lighting in Montgomery County is on the fritz after a blizzard, a generator can be a lifesaver when the power goes out. But how exactly do generators function when there’s no electricity to power the device?

Have you ever tried to push two strong magnets together? If you have, you’ve probably noticed that one of two things always happens. First, your magnets might be attracted to one another. If that’s the case, your magnets will fly together, and you’ll have a hard time pulling them apart. However, if the magnets aren’t attracted to one another, you’ll notice that they move in opposite directions—and no matter how hard you try, you cannot force the two poles to stay together. Continue reading →