| There are two main types of electric motors. | | | | electric was transmitted. Brush DC motors use |
| There are direct current or DC and | | | | rings that conduct the current and form the |
| alternating current or AC motors. The | | | | magnetic drive that powers the rotor. |
| reference of DC or AC refers to how the | | | | Brushless DC motors use a switch to produce |
| electrical current is transferred through and | | | | the magnetic drive that powers the rotor. |
| from the motor. Both types of motors have | | | | Direct current motors are often found in |
| different functions and uses. Dc motors come | | | | appliances around the home. |
| in two general types. They can have brushes | | | | |
| or be brushless. AC motors, as well, come in | | | | Alternating current or AC electric motors are |
| two different types. They can be two phase or | | | | used differently based on what type of AC |
| three phase. The differences in DC and AC | | | | motor it is. Single phase AC motors are known |
| motors are sometimes subtle, but these | | | | as general purpose motors. They work well in |
| differences are what make one types better | | | | many different situations. These AC motors |
| for a certain use. | | | | work great for systems that are hard to start |
| | | | because they need a lot of power up front. |
| Direct current or DC electric motors work for | | | | Three phase, also called polyphase, AC motors |
| situations where speed needs to be | | | | are usually found in industrial settings. |
| controlled. DC motors have a stable and | | | | These motors also have high starting power |
| continuous current. DC motors were the first | | | | built transmit lower levels of overall power. |
| and earliest motors used. They were found, | | | | AC power gets its name from the fact that it |
| however, to not be as good at producing power | | | | alternates in power. The amount of power |
| over long lengths. Electric companies found | | | | given off by an AC motor is determined by the |
| using DC motors to generate electric did not | | | | amount of power needed to operate the system. |
| work because the power was lost as the | | | | |