Motor Basics

Related Courses

Key Questions

The following key questions are answered in this module:

What is an electric motor?
An electric motor is a rotating machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.

What are the two general types of electric motors?
The two types of electric motors are the AC (alternating current) motors and the DC (direct current) motors.

What is the motor stator?
The motor stator is the stationary part of the motor's electromagnetic circuit and usually consists of windings located in the stator of the AC motor.

What is the Alternating Current?
Alternating Current is described as current that flows in one direction and then reverses and flows in the opposite direction.

What are the two windings DC motors consist of?
DC motors consist of the field winding and armature winding.

Sample Video Transcript

Below is a transcript of the video sample provided for this module:

A simple DC motor has a stationary set of magnets or wire wound electromagnets in the stator. The armature has one or more windings of insulated wire wrapped around the core. The ends of the wire winding are connected to the commutator. The commutator allows each armature coil to be energized by an external power source. The commutator is a rotary electric switch that periodically reverses the current direction between the rotor and the external circuit. It is composed of multiple metal contact segments on the rotating armature of the motor. Two or more electrical contacts called “Brushes” made of a soft conductive material like carbon press against the commutator. The brushes make sliding contact with successive segments of the commutator as it rotates. The windings on the armature are connected to the commutator segments. DC motors have several components that are similar to AC motors. The components that are similar are: Windings, Airgap, Bearings, Frame, Fan, and Terminal box. DC motors operate on DC current and the current is applied to the rotor (armature) rather than the stator as in an AC motor. The DC motor rotor is called the armature. DC motors have a commutator along with brushes on the motor shaft for applying DC current to the motor armature. The DC motor commutator is a mechanism used to switch the input of most DC motors and certain AC motors. It consists of split-ring segments insulated from each other and from the motor shaft. The motor armature current is supplied through stationary carbon brushes in contact with the revolving commutator, which causes required current reversal, and applies power to the machine as it rotates from pole to pole.A simple DC motor has a stationary set of magnets or wire wound electromagnets in the stator. The armature has one or more windings of insulated wire wrapped around the core. The ends of the wire winding are connected to the commutator. The commutator allows each armature coil to be energized by an external power source. The commutator is a rotary electric switch that periodically reverses the current direction between the rotor and the external circuit. It is composed of multiple metal contact segments on the rotating armature of the motor. Two or more electrical contacts called “Brushes” made of a soft conductive material like carbon press against the commutator. The brushes make sliding contact with successive segments of the commutator as it rotates. The windings on the armature are connected to the commutator segments. DC motors have several components that are similar to AC motors. The components that are similar are: Windings, Airgap, Bearings, Frame, Fan, and Terminal box. DC motors operate on DC current and the current is applied to the rotor (armature) rather than the stator as in an AC motor. The DC motor rotor is called the armature. DC motors have a commutator along with brushes on the motor shaft for applying DC current to the motor armature. The DC motor commutator is a mechanism used to switch the input of most DC motors and certain AC motors. It consists of split-ring segments insulated from each other and from the motor shaft. The motor armature current is supplied through stationary carbon brushes in contact with the revolving commutator, which causes required current reversal, and applies power to the machine as it rotates from pole to pole.