I am really stuck on this and I couldn't find any references on the internet regarding this. When a load is connected to a generator, why does the current withdrawn from the generator increases. Since the connected load will increase the overall impedance of the system, shouldn't the generator now supply less current ?
I was able to explain this in case of induction motors (When they are loaded, their effective reactance decreases and hence they draw more current), however I'm not able to explain this in cases of heaters and light bulbs.
Best Answer
It's worth remembering that a generator has an active control system that works to maintain a certain output voltage.
That is, the generator is responsive to changes in the load impedance. A step increase in load power requirement will cause a temporary voltage dip, as the output power of the generator at that instant is less than the amount of power required by the load.
However, within a period of five seconds, the generator's governor and automatic voltage regulator will act to increase the generator's power output (voltage, current) until it matches the amount of power (voltage, current) required by the loads.