Jeff, not a debate, but a learning session about a subject that baffles nearly everyone - including me! I was required to learn the concepts enuff to fool the USAF into letting me fix their weapons systems, but not enuff to be a teacher
we're all dorks together when it comes to electrons!
Stuart - the switch is a variable resistance, so it's ohms that you change by turning it - the motor is also a resistance, which is arranged magneticly to use some of the power to turn, but some is lost to heat, which is why electric motors get hot
power is measured in watts, and watts are 'generated' by amps moving thru resistance - increase the resistance and you reduce the current to the motor, same voltage at the battery pushing the same amps to the circuit, less heat in the motor, more heat in the switch
the amps [current] thru any resistance [like the heating element in an electric heater] create heat by 'burning' the amount of power supplied by the amount of volts
I think the problem is thinking in terms of volts - the generator doesn't generate volts, but amps, which 'refill' the battery, or supply circuits directly - everything is 6 v or 12, like the house is always 110 - the variable lighting controllers in your house are just like the heater switch, they reduce the amps [current] so the 100w bulb [a resistance] can only produce 50w, but the extra watts have to go someplace, which is into heat from the controller, another resistance
clearer?
Bill
