Electric Motors

ELECTRIC MOTOR
An electric motor is a machine that converts electrical energy to mechanical power. Manufacturers have gone to great lengths to design motors to meet specific loads and environments. The life of an electric motor is determined by how well the motor is matched to the job and the service environment.

Principle: either a current, a magnetic field or motion can be produced as long as the other two are present.

In an electric motor a current interacting with a magnetic field produces motion.

Electricity is supplied to the loop of wire through the communtator. When current flows through wire a electromagnetic field is established around the wire loop. For part of AC cycle the polarity of the electromagnetic field will be the same polarity of the permanent magnetic field. Similar polarity repels = rotation. The armature of an electric motor has numerous loops of wire.

Motor Parts Brush Type

The commutator has many segments.

Each segment is attached to a loop of wire in the windings.

As the armature rotates the brushes transfer current to each wire loop in the windings. The magnetic field in the armature pushes against the magnet field of the magnets in the can.

Advantages of Electric Motors

1. Initial cost: On a per-horsepower basis, the purchase price of an electric motor is relatively low. 2. Design: Electric motors have very few parts and are very easy to operate. In addition, because they are started and stopped with switches, their operation is easily automated. 3. Operating costs: The operating costs of electric motors are low. They have very low maintenance costs, and the cost of electricity allows them to be operated for a few cents per horsepower hour. 4. Environmental impact: An electric motor gives off no exhaust fumes and does not use a flammable fuel; and although it is true that the generation of electricity may affect the environment, it is easier to monitor and control this effect if it is concentrated at one location.

5. Noise: Electric motors operate quietly with very little vibration.

6. Efficiency: An electric motor is the most efficient way to produce power, operating with an efficiency range of 70 to 90%.

Disadvantages of Electric Motors

1. Portability: Electric motors are not very portable; they must be connected to a source of electricity.
Improvements in battary technology has eliminated this effect for hand tools.

2. Electrical hazard: Electricity has an adverse effect on humans and other animals when they come into contact with it.

Use and Performance Classifications

Type of current
AC or DC

Single or three phase

Type of enclosure
Open Drip proof Enclosed Hazardous environment

Load starting ability Starting current Reversibility Dual voltage

Type of bearings
Sleeve Ball

Type of mounting base

Overcurrent Protection
Built-in thermal overload protection:
Many motors have this device as an integral part of the motor. It may have either an automatic reset or a manual reset.

Manual starting switch with overload protection:

A manual starting switch overload protection device can be added to motors without built-in thermal protection. This device is an integrated switch and thermal overload device that opens the circuit when the motor overheats.

It must be reset by hand before the motor can be restarted.

Magnetic starting switch with overload protection:

Magnetic starting switches are fast-acting switches for large motors and are equipped with a thermal overload (heater) device that will open the circuit if the current draw is excessive.

These devices are manually reset.

Types Of Motors
Split phase
Use starting winding until motor reaches operating speed. Simplest type Limited to 1/3 hp or less Very high starting current demand

Capacitor
Uses capacitor in starting winding to increase starting torque--1.5 - 2 times split phase 7.5 hp and less

Much less than split phase

Repulsion start induction run

Very high starting torque Lowest starting current demand of all single phase motors Sizes up to 10 hp

Universal
Operates on either AC or DC Speed varies with load

Name Plate Information

When replacing a motor is is important to select a duplicate type. Motor name plate contains all of the necessary information.

Questions