Key Questions
The following key questions are answered in this module:
What is an AC motor used for?
It's an electric motor that is the key component in many consumer products and industrial process. Motors that use Alternating Current, or AC, are the most common type of industrial electric motor because they are very low maintenance and extremely reliable.
What is the difference between AC electricity and DC electricity?
DC, or direct current (flows in a single direction), is the power that comes from batteries, fuel cells, and solar cells, and AC, or alternating current (electricity that flows back and forth), is the power that comes from AC electric generators and power plants.
What is single-phase power, and what does it do?
Single-phase power refers to circuits with one power conductor and one neutral line, with a current that flows back and forth.
What are the three types of single-phase AC motors?
They can be split-phase, shaded pole, or capacitor motors.
Why are three-phase motors different from single-phase motors?
Three-phase motors require three-phase AC power and don't need start windings, capacitors, or centrifugal switches. Instead, there are three stator windings placed 120 degrees apart on the frame.