Wave Winding

Author: E.E. Kimberly

In Fig. 10-8 is shown another type of winding on an armature core similar to that of Fig. 10-6.
This winding proceeds in the same direction many times around the armature and closes on
itself. This type of winding is called a wave winding. In Fig. 10-9 is shown a resistive circuit
equivalent to that of a wave-wound armature for a four-pole generator. Fig. 10-11 shows a
developed wave winding on an armature similar to that used in Fig. 10-10. The designer's choice
between the wave winding and the lap winding is determined by the voltage, speed, and kilowatt
capacity of the generator. For a given speed, number of poles, and number of armature
conductors, the wave winding gives a higher voltage than a lap winding for the following reason:
In a wave winding (simplex)1 half of the conductors are in series between brushes, whereas in a
lap winding (simplex) the number of conductors in series between brushes is equal to the total
number of conductors divided by the number of poles.
In a lap-wound armature, two paths in parallel deliver current to each positive brush. There are as
many brushes as there are poles, and so a lap winding always has as many paths in parallel as
there are poles. With a wave-wound armature there are usually as many brushes as there are
poles, although there are only two paths through the armature irrespective of the number of
poles. Inspection of Fig. 10-8 will verify the foregoing

Fig. 10-8.
Wave Winding
of Four-Pole
Generator

Fig. 10-9.
Resistive
Circuit
Equivalent to
That of a FourPole WaveWound
Armature

statement for the four-pole generator. In Fig. 10-8 segment 5 touching negative brush b is
directly connected to segment 14 touching negative brush d through conductors 9 and 16. The
coil 9-16 is then under commutation at the point shown and is contributing nothing to the
generator's terminal voltage.

Fig. 10-10.
Developed
Lap Winding

Fig. 10-11.
Developed
Wave Winding

For complex and multiple re-entrant windings and special windings, see Principles of DirectCurrent Machines, by A. S. Langsdorf, McGraw-Hill Book Company.