mains supply or generator supply?

[mailus]

I am in need to design a circuit that must detect the supply type(mains or generator) by using a wall socket.
yes the supply is to be detected by using two wires (phase and neutral).if supply is generator means i want to glow a LED.
any ideas to design this circuit.

(by using a controller or analog electronics or digital electronics)

 

[tpetar]

What can you tell us about generator its small generator or big, is there a lots of ripple or noise in voltage ?


Best regards,
Peter

 

[mailus]

the generator is used to supply for an apartment. so it is bigger.
i don't know about ripple or noise in voltage.
is there any way to detect mains supply or generator supply?

 

[Tunelabguy]

It is possible for a generator to produce power that appears the same as the municipal mains power. In that case, no, it is impossible to tell one from the other. But most generators do not have precise control of frequency like the mains do to be part of the larger grid. So if you have a way of precisely measuring the frequency you might be able to make a good guess as to when the generator is supplying power. But then the generator might just happen to be at exactly the right frequency for a while too. In that case once again the generator will appear indistinguishable from the mains.

 

[dick_freebird]

Brush type generators tend to be arc-noisier, and the
brushless types switching-noisier, but you might have
some trouble distinguishing source-noise from load-noise.
I would recommend looking at the line waveform in both
cases and see what distinction can be made, and then
you can implement that by analog or algorithmic means.

Unless you'd like to stay simple and just sense the state
of the transfer switch....