1. An electrical machine that combines a motor and a generator in a single unit, used to convert direct current from one voltage to another.
Usage: technical; electrical engineering

Examples

• The dynamotor was essential in early aircraft for converting battery voltage to the higher voltage needed for radio equipment.
• Engineers used a dynamotor to step up the 12-volt supply to 400 volts for the avionics system.
• Before solid-state converters became common, dynamotors were the standard method for voltage conversion in vehicles.
• The dynamotor's efficiency made it popular in military applications during World War II.
• A dynamotor contains both motor and generator windings on the same shaft.